Lord Sheikh

Lord Sheikh:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures will be put in place to ensure that members of the Muslim community with moderate beliefs are not victimised under the Prevent counterterrorism programme.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Neville-Jones): The Government are committed to protecting all communities. The review of the Prevent strategy will ensure that it is properly targeted and delivered.

Lord Sheikh:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans are in place to investigate any allegation of spying under the Prevent counterterrorism programme.

Baroness Neville-Jones: Prevent is not, and must not be, about spying on individuals. Previous allegations of spying have been investigated and found to be unsubstantiated. The Government are reviewing Prevent to ensure that it is properly targeted and delivered.

Lord Sheikh:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps are being taken to ensure that the Prevent counterterrorism programme does not have a negative impact on community cohesion.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the total cost of implementing the Prevent counterterrorism programme; who receives the funding; and how their work is monitored.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether a review is being undertaken of the Prevent counterterrorism programme; and what activities will be undertaken under the programme in future.

Baroness Neville-Jones: Funding specifically paid through the Prevent counterterrorism programme by the Home Office, Office for Security and Counter-terrorism (OSCT), in the financial year 2009-10 was approximately £30 million. Funds were used to support Prevent activity in a number of other government departments and voluntary and community-based organisations. These funds are allocated and monitored in line with relevant departmental procedures. Prevent activity is also funded separately by other government departments.

The Government will review the Prevent strand of the counterterrorism strategy by January 2011 to ensure it is properly focused and makes an appropriate contribution to dealing with extremism, and to achieve a clear separation from work to promote integration led by the Communities and Local Government department.

Lord Sheikh:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps are being taken to increase community programmes that promote interfaith dialogue and cohesion.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): In the present financial year my department is supporting Faiths in Action, a small grants scheme through which grants of up to £6,000 are made to support innovative local inter faith projects. Information about the programme may be found on the website of the Community Development Foundation. My department will also be making financial support available for activities in Inter Faith Week this November.

We have made these spending commitments, which total over £2 million, because we recognise that inter faith dialogue and action do much to increase community cohesion. Future financial support for cohesion and other programmes is a matter for the spending review which will conclude in the autumn. Meanwhile, the Government are working closely with the Christian churches and other faith communities to ensure that they are involved in building the big society, in which individuals and groups take responsibility for improving their communities.

Lord Sheikh:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Government of Iran about allegations of violence against women.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The UK is concerned by the plight of women in Iran. On 3 June 2010, on the occasion of women’s day in Iran, my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Alistair Burt, released a statement to show his support for women activists in Iran. Furthermore, he raised the issue of women’s rights during a meeting with the Iranian ambassador on 19 July.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made recently to the Government of Iran about human rights.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We believe that the human rights situation in Iran is deplorable, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office continues to take opportunities to raise human rights with the Government of Iran in both a bilateral context, and with EU partners. In the past two months, the Government have made a number of statements about the human rights situation and have met Iranian officials including most recently when my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Alistair Burt, met the Iranian ambassador on 19 July 2010. Furthermore, in Geneva last month, the UK signed up to a cross-regional statement by Norway and signed by 55 other states calling on Iran to improve urgently its human rights record.

Lord Sheikh:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many persons travelling in the United Kingdom have been searched using body scanners or have had their luggage screened at international airports in the United Kingdom in the last (a) three, (b) six, and (c) 12 months.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many persons from ethnic minorities have been searched using body scanners or have had their luggage screened when travelling into the United Kingdom in the last (a) three, (b) six, and (c) 12 months.

Earl Attlee: The screening of passengers and baggage flying into the UK takes place at the point of departure and is the responsibility of the departing state.

Security (body) scanners have been operationally deployed in the UK since 1 February 2010 for the screening of departing passengers. In the subsequent five months to 1 July 2010, approximately 250,000 people have been screened by security scanners at UK airports. Passengers may be selected for security scanning on a random basis, or if they cause other detection systems to alarm.

The Government require that airports ensure that passengers selected for security scanning be afforded an opportunity to provide details of their age, gender, race, ethnic origin and religion or beliefs. Airports are collecting these data by a number of methods. We are considering how best to analyse these data and have also sought the views of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

We will consider this further alongside the responses to the public consultation on the use of security scanners, which closed on 19 July. All departing baggage is subjected to security screening at UK airports.

Lord Sheikh:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many British citizens are detained in Iranian prisons.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): We were made aware of one dual Iranian-British national detained in December 2009, who may still be detained. We are only able to provide consular assistance to dual nationals in the country of their other nationality if they request it and if the country of their other nationality agrees. In this case we have been asked by the next of kin not to provide consular assistance or to make representations on their behalf. We therefore cannot confirm if the individual remains in detention.

We are aware of no other British detainees in Iran.

Lord Sheikh:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether ethnic background is one of the criteria for searching or screening the luggage of those travelling into the United Kingdom at international airports.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Neville-Jones): Ethnic background is not one of the criteria used for searching or screening luggage for customs or immigration purposes of persons travelling into the United Kingdom.

Lord Sheikh:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to ensure that UK Border Agency officers and other officers involved in security procedures at airports are polite and courteous to those searched.

Baroness Neville-Jones: Customer service is an integral part of the induction training for new officers and is assessed as part of the performance management process for all UKBA staff working at the border.

Any customer who is dissatisfied with their experience of UKBA while crossing the border is encouraged to make a complaint. Ports hold a supply of How to Complain leaflets that are available to customers and explain the complaints process. All complaints are taken seriously and UKBA aims to provide a response within 20 days. Complaints can lead to a review of procedures and process, new training for staff or, in more serious matters, disciplinary action.

Lord Sheikh:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there is a code of conduct that officers at international airports in the United Kingdom are required to follow.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The UK Border Agency sets a high standard of personal honesty and integrity, requiring border force officers to be mindful of their personal conduct, both within and outside their official role, and they are expected to avoid any action which may bring their conduct into question. All border force officers are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code and Home Office values, and the border force is committed to achieving the customer service excellence accreditation by the end of 2012.

Border force officers who are performing customs duties are required to have regard to the provisions of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 Code A when exercising any powers to search persons and vehicles.There are misconduct procedures in place which are designed to ensure that the standards of conduct laid down for border force officers are adhered to. The UK Border Agency is committed to ensuring that these procedures are based on the principles of natural justice and are applied fairly and equally to everyone.

Lord Sheikh:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what procedures are in force to monitor the conduct of and behaviour of officers searching persons travelling into the United Kingdom at international airports.

Baroness Neville-Jones: Border force standards were launched in April 2010 with the purpose of ensuring the border force is compliant with agreed policies and procedures, to ensure consistency of approach across the business and to give clarity to staff and managers on what is expected of them and what they can expect of others. Misconduct by an officer would be dealt with under the general misconduct procedure which is to be followed in all cases of suspected or alleged misconduct.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has a remit to oversee serious complaints, incidents and conduct matters in relation to the exercise of police-like powers by border force officers.

Lord Sheikh:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent reports they have received from the Government of Nigeria regarding the situation in Jos.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to make representations to the Government of Nigeria about the violence in Jos.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the political situation in Nigeria.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to promote religious freedom and tolerance in Nigeria.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance they have given to victims of the conflict in Jos, Nigeria.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to ensure that Nigeria upholds the values of the Commonwealth.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): As I said in the House on 30 March in response to the noble Baroness Cox of Queensbury, we condemn the recent violence near Jos (House of Lords, Official Report, 30 March 2010, col. 1287), which resulted in such terrible loss of life. I raised UK concerns with the then Foreign Minister Maduekwe on 20 January, and my honourable friend the Minister of State Ivan Lewis spoke to the Foreign Minister on 15 March. Our High Commission in Abuja remains in regular contact with the Nigerian Government at state and federal level on this issue. The situation on the ground has now stabilised, although a curfew remains in place in Jos between 2100 and 0600 hours.

The Department for International Development (DfID)’s representatives in Nigeria began discussions with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on assistance to victims of conflict in Jos in mid-March 2010. Previously, DfID had provided £200,000 to ICRC for its overall work in Nigeria, which has helped to meet immediate needs. Decisions on any additional funding will be made on the basis of a needs assessment currently being carried out by the ICRC.

More broadly, our High Commission in Abuja and DfID will continue its programme of outreach and interfaith activity to promote dialogue between different communities to foster reconciliation and tolerance. We will also continue to press the Government of Nigeria on the importance of ensuring security for its citizens and protecting freedom of religion as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We encourage all Commonwealth states to uphold the values of the Commonwealth, as reiterated at the last Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2009, with the issuing of the Trinidad and Tobago Affirmation on Commonwealth Values and Principles. We also maintain a close dialogue with Nigeria through the Commonwealth forum. For example during last year’s CHOGM I had productive discussions with Foreign Minister Maduekwe.