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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Political and Human Rights
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding has been given by his Department to develop political and human rights parliamentary discussion groups in Commonwealth countries in each of the last three years. [84746]
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Mr. Tony Lloyd:
A number of FCO budget lines are used to support the development of pluralist democratic institutions and multi-party political systems. However, as a result of the devolved nature of some of these programmes the information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
While part of the FCO's grant-in-aid to the Westminster Foundation for Democracy has been used by WFD to fund various cross-party projects, these are generally to facilitate training. WFD do not fund round-table discussion groups or attendance at conferences.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which foreign embassies and high commissions have refused to waive diplomatic immunity when requested to do so, in each of the last three years. [85369]
Mr. Tony Lloyd
[holding answer 25 May 1999]: None, in 1996, 1997, 1998. However, there has been one such case in 1999, on which further action is being pursued. It would, therefore, not be appropriate at this stage to identify the Mission concerned.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many foreign embassies and high commissions have waived diplomatic immunity in respect of offences committed by their staff or their staff's families in each of the last three years. [85368]
Mr. Tony Lloyd
[holding answer 25 May 1999]: The number of times on which a state has waived the immunity of a diplomatic agent in the last three calender years is as follows:
Mr. Tony Lloyd
[holding answer 25 May 1999]: In accordance with the guidelines laid out in the 1985 White Paper--The recommendations of the Government Report on Review of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and Reply to "The Abuse of Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges"--the following were formally asked to leave the United Kingdom in the last three calendar years:
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Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British nationals have been charged with drug offences while staying in Cyprus in each of the last three years. [85516]
Mr. Hoon:
The number of British nationals charged with drugs offences while visiting, (but not resident) in Cyprus and reported to our Consular service, was 19 in 1996, 17 in 1997 and 33 in 1998.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in Sierra Leone. [85551]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
We welcome the recent signing of a ceasefire agreement. We hope that the current negotiations in Lome between the Government of Sierra Leone and the rebels will lead to a sustainable peace. We support President Kabbah's commitment to dialogue, and look to all rebel factions to commit themselves to the peace process, and end the violence and atrocities that have beset the people of Sierra Leone for so long.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what action he is taking within the EU to put pressure on Turkey to comply with the judgment in the Loizidou case; [85626]
Ms Quin:
We and our EU partners continue to make clear to Turkey the need to respect the Court's judgment in this case, including in the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers' Deputies. At its last meeting on 27 May the Committee of Ministers' Deputies agreed that its Chair would write to Turkey asking for clarification of Turkey's intentions. We will continue to discuss with EU partners, as with other members of the Council of Europe, how best to achieve Turkish implementation of the Court's judgment.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Indonesian Government, and what representations he has received, concerning the massacre of unarmed civilians on 3 May near the city of Lhokseumawe. [85954]
Mr. Hoon:
We are deeply disturbed by the incident in Lhokseumawe on 3 May in which a number of unarmed civilians, including women and children, were killed or injured. The late Derek Fatchett expressed our concern in a statement on 7 May which looked to the Indonesian Government to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, to bring to account those responsible and to take all possible steps to ensure that local armed forces act with restraint and in accordance with basic human rights.
Mr. Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Indonesia on measures to protect the Christian and
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Chinese minorities in that country from violence in the period before the general election; and if he will make a statement. [85649]
Mr. Hoon:
We have consistently made clear to the Indonesian Government that the international community closely monitors the treatment of all minority groups in Indonesia, including Christians and the ethnic-Chinese community.
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when he intends to inform British Council staff based in Manchester of his detailed proposals for changes in the staffing and functions of the Manchester office; [86108]
Mr. Hoon:
Issues concerning staff, their duties and location are matters for the British Council. I understand that there are no proposals to change staffing and functions based in Manchester. The British Council is committed to its Manchester location until 2002 when there is an option to continue the leases on its current accommodation. The British Council is reviewing the options on premises and staffing in the light of its overall strategy and funding. Staff and their representatives will continue to be informed and consulted.
Mr. Drew:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has, following the suspension of UN sanctions, to lift the national controls on the export of aircraft, aircraft parts and flight simulators to Libya; and if he will make a statement. [86612]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
The Government have decided to lift the controls on the export of aircraft, aircraft parts and flight simulators to Libya under the provisions of Dual-Use and Related Goods (Export Control) Regulations 1996, as amended. Legislation will be laid before the House shortly. This decision follows the suspension on 5 April of UN sanctions, which included a prohibition on the supply of any aircraft or aircraft components to Libya.
The Foreign Office will issue a press release later today. The "Summary of Government Commitments regarding the Application of Strategic Export Controls" will be amended and updated versions placed in the Libraries of the House and on the FCO Website. The Department of Trade and Industry will issue a Notice to Exporters before the amending legislation takes effect.
Mr. Drew:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the export of arms to Iran. [86615]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
There has been no change to current policy, as set out in the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. King) on 28 January 1998, Official Report, columns 273-74.
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1996--One
1997--One
1998--None
1999--One (as of 8 June).
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many diplomats have been withdrawn by foreign countries from the United Kingdom at the request of the Government as a consequence of alleged crimes committed in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years. [85370]
1996--Five diplomats and families; One dependant of an accredited diplomat
1997--One diplomat and family
1998--Two dependants of accredited diplomats
(2) what action he is taking to persuade Turkey to comply with the judgment in the Loizidou case. [R] [85627]
(2) what proposals he has to change (a) the number of British Council staff in Manchester and (b) the functions of the British Council which are currently based in Manchester. [86109]
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