A/HRC/8/25 Page 11 limited circumstances overseas. The policy of the United Kingdom is to comply with its human rights obligations wherever they apply. Armed forces abroad are subject to criminal law and can be prosecuted, no matter where an offence is committed, or who the victim may be. The United Kingdom condemns all abuse and always treats all allegations of wrongdoing very seriously. Service personnel are subject to service police investigation and to United Kingdom military law wherever they are serving. With respect to international humanitarian law (IHL), the United Kingdom noted that in overseas military operations where IHL applies, its policy is to comply with IHL requirements, but it does not accept that IHL is a basis for the Universal Periodic Review. All members of armed services must uphold high professional standards; they receive training on international humanitarian law, and that reflects applicable human rights obligations. Secondly, in response to questions from Ghana and Peru about mainstreaming a human rights culture, the United Kingdom informed the meeting of significant improvements in how public services are delivered. The Ministry of Justice had prepared a human rights teaching resource for children ages 11 to 15, to be released later this year, as well as an e-learning package on human rights. Consultations are intended on a new bill on rights and responsibilities, the fundamental goal of which is to build on the existing Human Rights Act. Thirdly, in response to Sri Lanka’s question about prosecutions of alleged complicity of police and security forces in Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom stressed the need to address Northern Ireland’s troubled past. The Government had committed more than 34 million pounds over six years to fund a police service Historic Enquiries Team to investigate all deaths between 1968 and 1998. It established an independent public inquiry into the deaths of Rosemary Nelson, Robert Hamill and Billy Wright. The purpose of these inquiries is to examine circumstances, produce a report and make relevant recommendations, but not to prosecute; criminal investigations are for the police and prosecution services. Fourthly, regarding concerns expressed by the Islamic Republic of Iran and India about racism, the United Kingdom stated that it is an evil that must be eradicated, and recognized that it can take the form of social exclusion. It recognizes that there are many ethnic minorities - black and minority ethnic groups – who will suffer disproportionately from lack of skills, and to tackle that it has introduced measures such as the minimum wage and massive investment in education and training. The stop and search power is intelligence-led, and is more likely to be effective and to secure public confidence if based on up-to-date intelligence and on an effective assessment of threat, rather than on an individual’s racial profile. It is aimed at terrorists and criminals, whatever their background. The United Kingdom expressed its commitment to strengthening a close partnership with the Islamic community, and welcomes parliamentary scrutiny and dialogue. Fifthly, in response to questions on prison conditions raised by the United States of America, the Sudan and the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom stated that it regards this as an important issue, as is tackling crime. The prison population is growing and there is a decline in the crime rate. It noted that, following a review of prisons in England and Wales in December 2007, an extra 1.2 billion pounds to pay for extra prison places, and modernized and reorganized prisons had been announced. The State would follow a targeted approach and a broad and integrated and evidence-based suicide prevention strategy. Sixthly, regarding Canada’s question on the issue of ageism, the United Kingdom mentioned that it has introduced regulations prohibiting age discrimination in the workplace and is examining the possibility of prohibiting age discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities, services and in the exercise of public functions. However, legislating outside the workplace would be complex because there are circumstances where it may even be beneficial to discriminate, for example with regard to subsidized public transport, TV licenses and fuel allowances. The United Kingdom recognized that harmful age discrimination largely exists in a few sectors, i.e. in the health and social sector and to a lesser extent, in the financial sector. 37. Morocco noted with appreciation the clear distinction drawn by the United Kingdom between violent extremism and the religion which extremists claim to represent. Morocco is implementing a