A/HRC/27/3 36. In response to a question from Mexico, the delegation said that the consultations between the central Government and the Sami Parliament would to be undertaken in good faith with the objective of achieving agreement. The consultation mechanism ensured that decision makers were well acquainted with the views of the Sami Parliament. 37. In response to a question from Mexico on how indigenous people participate in decisions on the use of land and natural resources, the delegation referred to the Finnmark Act, which had established the Finnmark Estate, an independent entity that owned all the land in Finnmark county that had previously belonged to the State. The Sami Parliament appointed half of the Finnmark Estate board members. 38. In response to a question from Germany regarding indigenous peoples and mining activities, the delegation emphasized that the mineral industry played an important role in securing jobs and development in rural areas. Norwegian legislation included a number of provisions that safeguarded Sami interests in that context. 39. In response to a question from the Netherlands, the delegation emphasized that rape was a serious and totally unacceptable crime. In the Penal Code, rape was defined by listing factors that negate consent. The Government’s ambition was to reduce the incidence of rape, assist victims in the best way possible and improve the way rape cases were handled in the criminal justice system. 40. In response to a question from the Netherlands about prolonged detention in police holding cells, the delegation stated that regulations required detainees to be transferred from police custody to a normal prison within 48 hours of their arrest, unless practical considerations made that impossible. 41. In response to questions from Ireland and the Netherlands on the use of solitary confinement in detention, the delegation said that major improvements had been made in that regard in recent years. The courts could approve isolation only if stringent conditions were satisfied and the time limits were strict. There had been a significant reduction in the use of solitary confinement, which was normally reserved for the most serious cases and lasted for short periods only. Concerning solitary confinement during the execution of sentences, the delegation described measures to ensure that solitary confinement was applied more selectively. 42. In response to questions and recommendations from Kyrgyzstan and Mexico on education for minors seeking asylum, the delegation indicated that all children in Norway had the same legal right and duty to attend primary and lower secondary school, regardless of background. 43. In response to a question from the United Kingdom concerning the standard of emergency shelters and social housing, especially for families with children, the delegation stated that Norwegian municipalities were obliged to find temporary accommodation for persons who were unable to find accommodation by themselves. The accommodation had to be of a sufficient standard to meet the needs of the persons concerned. 44. Responding to a question from Mexico on the export of arms or munitions, the delegation said that Norway had a strict, long-standing arms export policy. It did not permit the sale of arms or munitions to areas in which there was a war, civil war or threat of war. 45. Responding to a question from Spain, the delegation answered that the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights were a cornerstone of the Government’s approach to human rights and business. 46. Responding to a question from Israel about combating anti-Semitism, Norway emphasized that knowledge was a key factor and described measures aimed at preventing anti-Semitism in schools. 6