| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
MOD Police
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with whom he has entered into agreements or contracts or signed memorandums of understanding which extend to Ministry of Defence police officers the powers and privileges of constables (a) on land in respect of which he has agreed to provide the services of the Ministry of Defence police under notices published in the London, Belfast and Edinburgh Gazette and (b) in relation to matters connected with anything done for the purposes of the Ministry of Defence or the Defence Council. [75276]
Mr. Doug Henderson: The Secretary of State for Defence has agreed to provide the services of the Ministry of Defence Police to:
- (a) the Royal Mint, Llantrisant, concerning which a notice was placed in the London Gazette on 5 May 1987;
- (b) Devonport Dockyard, concerning which a notice was placed in the London Gazette on 3 March 1997;
- (c) Rosyth Dockyard, concerning which a notice was placed in the Edinburgh Gazette on 28 January 1997.
The Secretary of State does not have to enter into an agreement for members of the MOD Police to have the powers and privileges of constables in relation to matters connected with anything done under a contract entered into by him for the purposes of his Department or the Defence Council: jurisdiction is conferred by section 2(2) or section 2(3) of the Ministry of Defence Police Act 1987.
30 Mar 1999 : Column: 563
Overseas Territories
Mr. Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his statement of 17 March 1999, Official Report, columns 1125-27, if he will list the British overseas territories that meet in full international standards on money laundering, transparency in regulation of their financial sectors, co-operation with law enforcement authorities and independent financial regulation. [78002]
Mr. Tony Lloyd [holding answer 23 March 1999]: None at present meets all these requirements. The Overseas Territories are at differing stages of developing regulatory regimes which are acceptable to the international community.
The White Paper on the Overseas Territories expands on the measures we consider necessary to ensure the OTs meet accepted international standards of financial regulation by the end of 1999. HMG will monitor progress in the OTs and continue to provide them with advice and support in drafting and effectively implementing legislation.
An independent review of financial regulation will be conducted in the OTs to check what progress has been made in implementing these measures. The review will also make recommendations on how to deal with issues outstanding and to what timetable. If any OTs are found to be inactive or behind, HMG will seriously consider whether to use our powers to ensure the standards are met.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Wirral, South (Mr. Chapman) of 12 March 1999, Official Report, columns 399-400, on exports, what the role of British Trade International will be in respect of the promotion of the export of British nuclear technologies. [78975]
Mr. Fatchett:
British Trade International will support the promotion of the export of British nuclear technologies, as Overseas Trade Services did in the past, in conformity with our export and non-proliferation obligations.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he proposes to take in response to Recommendation 1382 (1998) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe concerning the drawing up of a European code of conduct on arms sales. [78874]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
Recommendation 1382 (1998) calls for a number of actions by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The Committee of Ministers has instructed the Ad Hoc Committee of Legal Advisers on Public International Law to prepare an opinion on the Recommendation. It is our understanding that there will be no further consideration of the Recommendation by the Committee until the opinion has been received.
30 Mar 1999 : Column: 564
Mr. Ben Chapman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many suspected or actual cases of human rights violations connected with vessels operating in the waters surrounding the Falklands took place in each of the last three years. [79039]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
No cases of human rights abuses involving fishing vessels were recorded by the Royal Falkland Islands Police in 1996. In 1997, three incidents were reported in which mistreatment of seamen was suspected. These were pursued to the extent possible, but legal action could not be taken. Of two reported incidents in 1998, one resulted in the successful prosecution of the Captain of a fishing vessel. Both HMG and FIG take human rights violations seriously and continue to monitor the situation.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons the four British officials who were expelled on 7 March were visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo. [79165]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
Three of the officials were in Kinshasa to conduct a routine review of the Embassy's civil contingency plan, the fourth (a State Department employee on an exchange programme with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) was there to provide temporary cover for staff absences in the Embassy.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence the Democratic Republic of Congo presented to his Department in support of the detention and expulsion of British Embassy staff and four British officials on 7 March. [79164]
Dr. Starkey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will urge the Algerian Government, bilaterally and through the EU, to co-operate with the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearance and to facilitate a visit to the country in order to conduct an independent investigation of disappearance cases. [79014]
Mr. Fatchett:
We will continue to urge the Algerian Government to co-operate with all UN human rights mechanisms, including the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances, both in our bilateral dialogue and through the EU.
Dr. Starkey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Algerian Government calling on them to release all prisoners held in secret and unacknowledged detention unless they are to be charged with recognisably criminal offences. [79068]
Mr. Fatchett:
We regularly raise with the Algerian Government our concerns about alleged human rights violations, both bilaterally and through the EU. To this end we support the work of the UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances and urge the Algerian Government to honour their obligations to co-operate with this and all other UN human rights mechanisms.
30 Mar 1999 : Column: 565
Dr. Starkey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will press for a resolution on Algeria at the United Nations Commission for Human Rights at Geneva. [79013]
Mr. Fatchett:
We are our EU partners are considering our positions for this year's Commission on Human Rights, which runs until the end of April. Much will depend on the position taken by the Algerian Government to acknowledge their obligations under the UN Charter and agree to allow in UN Special Rapporteurs on Extra- judicial Executions and on Torture, and co-operate with all UN human rights mechanisms.
Dr. Starkey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current human rights situation within Algeria. [79012]
Mr. Fatchett:
The human rights situation in Algeria continues to cause us concern. In its latest report, the Working Group on Enforced Disappearances of the United Nations Economic and Social Council lists 731 cases of disappearances in Algeria since 1991. Only 11 have been addressed by the Algerian government to the Working Group's satisfaction. Over the same period there have also been numerous allegations of extra- judicial executions and torture by the Algerian security forces.
It is fair to say that the number of new disappearances cited by the UN in the last 12 months is well down on previous years. But this is no substitute for independent investigations into all cases. We continue to urge the Algerian Government to allow independent UN Special Rapporteurs free access to the country to investigate all alleged human rights violations, as they are obliged to do under the UN Charter.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to appoint additional business ambassadors. [79153]
Mr. Fatchett:
A small number of Ambassadors for British Business will be retiring from their main business employment in 1999. We may consider replacements for them during the year.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |