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Police Services
Sir Peter Emery:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to deal with the impact of population sparsity on the provision of police services. [96593]
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Mr. Straw:
The needs of police forces with sparsely populated areas are already taken into account in the current police funding formula. The findings of a research study on policing areas of rural sparsity were considered by a Home Office chaired working group, which included representatives of police forces and police authorities. There was no single view within the working group on the conclusions of the research report. There was general agreement that a sparsity factor had been detected, but less agreement about how to include it appropriately in the police funding formula.
I understand the wishes of rural police forces to see the research findings implemented. Before doing so the Government will need to be satisfied that the research has provided a final answer to this question, which is beyond dispute or challenge.
For 2000-01, we propose to set considerable store by stability in the grant system to help police authorities plan ahead. In the July 1998 White Paper, "Modern Local Government--In Touch with the People", my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister said we would not expect to make fresh changes to the method of calculation of Standard Spending Assessments (SSAs). This includes police SSAs, as a common formula is used for distribution of police grant and SSA.
Our present intention is that, subject to consultation and to approval by the House, we shall not make any changes to the method of police grant distribution, or revenue support grant distribution, generally for 2000-01. There will, therefore, be no substantive changes to the operation of the police funding formula for next year.
We shall need to make some limited adjustments to accommodate changes arising from the alterations to the boundary of the Metropolitan Police area and the Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey Police areas.
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to regulate the operation of wheel clamping companies. [R] [96320]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
In the White Paper "The Government's Proposals for Regulating the Private Security Industry in England and Wales", issued earlier this year, we announced proposals to regulate private wheel clampers as part of a package of statutory measures to regulate the private security industry as a whole. We will introduce legislation to Parliament as soon as Parliamentary time allows.
17. Mr. Savidge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the US Senate's rejection of the comprehensive test ban treaty. [95048]
22. Dr. Palmer:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects for controls on the testing of nuclear weapons, following the rejection of the treaty by the United States Senate. [95054]
2 Nov 1999 : Column: 120
26. Mr. Jenkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the US Administration on the US Senate's failure to ratify the nuclear test ban treaty. [95060]
Mr. Hain:
We have made clear our deep disappointment with the US Senate's vote against US ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. But we will continue to work with the US Administration, and with other key countries, to bring the Treaty into force as soon as possible.
18. Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of Indonesia concerning human rights. [95049]
Mr. Battle:
I visited Indonesia from 6-9 September and raised human rights issues with the then President and Foreign Minister. We remain concerned about the overall human rights situation in Indonesia. But we are greatly encouraged by the inauguration of Indonesia's first ever democratically elected President on 20 October and the decision to drop Indonesia's claim on East Timor. We stand ready to offer support to President Wahid's new Government during Indonesia's transition to democracy and full respect for human rights.
19. Mr. Pike:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of the present Government of Pakistan. [95050]
Mr. Robin Cook:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson), Official Report, column 81.
31. Dr. Iddon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of when Pakistan will be readmitted as a full member of the Commonwealth. [R] [95065]
Mr. Hain:
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, which met in London on 18 October, confirmed Pakistan's suspension from the councils of the Commonwealth. A Commonwealth Mission, led by the Foreign Minister of Canada, Lloyd Axworthy, visited Pakistan from 28-29 October in order to assess the situation there. It will report to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 12-15 November.
20. Mr. Linton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts he is making to ensure that his Department attracts candidates for employment from all sections of British society. [95051]
Mr. Hain:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, North (Helen Jones), Official Report, column 89.
2 Nov 1999 : Column: 121
21. Mr. Fabricant:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on Pakistani-Indian bilateral relations. [95053]
Mr. Robin Cook:
It is essential for regional stability that India and Pakistan enjoy good relations. We continue to encourage dialogue between them to resolve their outstanding differences, including Kashmir.
23. Dr. Godman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if when he last met his colleagues from other member-states of the European Union they discussed matters relating to the policing of communities in Kosovo. [95056]
Mr. Vaz:
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the security situation in Kosovo with his EU counterparts at the General Affairs Council meeting on 11 October. Partners welcomed a proposal by my right hon. Friend for an EU initiative to tackle the threat of organised crime in Kosovo, and commissioned further work to take this forward. The council also condemned the continuation of ethically based violence in Kosovo and called on leaders of various ethnic groups to put an end to it.
28. Mr. Nigel Griffiths:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the reconstruction programme required in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. [95062]
Dr. Desmond Turner:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the reconstruction programme in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. [95035]
Mr. Vaz:
Assessments on the needs for reconstruction assistance have been carried out by the World Bank and the European Commission who are leading the international effort on the reconstruction of Kosovo. These will be presented to a donors conference on 17 November. We fully support the efforts of the UN, the EU and the Stability Pact for South-East Europe in their reconstruction efforts.
Mr. Maples:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the security situation in the Kosovo towns of (a) Mitrovica and (b) Orahovac. [96945]
Mr. Vaz:
There are continuing stand-offs between Albanians and Serbs at Mitrovica over freedom of movement and access to homes, Mitrovica University and the local hospital. The Kosovo Force (KFOR) and UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) are working with both communities to encourage the process of reconciliation and to allow freedom of movement within the city. In Orahovac, there is a continuing stand-off with the local Albanian inhabitants over the deployment of a Russian KFOR contingent. We support KFOR and UNMIK efforts to resolve the problem.
Mr. Maples:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent to which the borders between (a) Kosovo and Albania and (b) Kosovo and Macedonia are adequately secured; and who controls them. [97063]
2 Nov 1999 : Column: 122
Mr. Vaz:
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, which established the international presences in Kosovo, gives the NATO-led international military presence in Kosovo, KFOR, responsibility for conducting border monitoring duties as required. Assuring the security of Kosovo's border with Albania and Macedonia is also a task for the United Nations interim administration in Kosovo (UNMIK), which has general responsibility for maintaining civil law and order.
Both KFOR and UNMIK recognise the importance of ensuring adequate control of Kosovo's borders. KFOR will continue to give border monitoring a high priority while the UN mission builds up the international police force in Kosovo, part of whose functions include border duties. UNMIK has also set up a customs service operating at border crossings. Negotiations are under way with the Macedonian Government to improve the efficiency of the major crossing point on the Kosovo/ Macedonia border.
Mr. Maples:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the number of Kosovo Albanians killed by the Yugoslav Army, Serbian security forces and paramilitaries in Kosovo during the Operation Allied Force. [96949]
Mr. Vaz:
Our current estimate remains that at least 10,000 civilians were killed in Kosovo as a result of war crimes by the Serbs between June 1998 and June 1999. We do not have disaggregated figures for those killed during Operation Allied Force.
Mr. Maples:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the planned 3,000 police officers for Kosovo have been deployed since 10 June. [96947]
Mr. Vaz:
Currently around 1,750 international police officers from 25 countries are deployed to Kosovo. The full contingent of officers originally required should be in place by the end of November. Following his report of 16 September, the United Nations Secretary-General has approved proposals for the deployment of 1,600 extra officers. The United Nations is expected to issue a request to donor nations for further officers soon.
Mr. Maples:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the ethnic composition is of the Kosovo Transitional Council; how many times the Council has met since 10 June; and if it is still operational. [97066]
Mr. Vaz:
The Kosovo Transitional Council (KTC) was established by the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative in Kosovo as an inclusive, consultative body bringing together all major political parties and ethnic groups in Kosovo. Its members include two each from the three major Kosovo Albanian political groupings, two Kosovo Albanian independents, two Kosovo Serbs and two members representing Kosovo's other ethnic minorities.
The Council has met sporadically since its inaugural meeting on 16 July. We are aware of six further meetings. Attendance has varied, depending on reactions by the various groupings to the situation on the ground or political developments at the time.
2 Nov 1999 : Column: 123
The Transitional Council is still operational, and has an important role to play in allowing representatives of different ethnic groups to have their say in the running of Kosovo and in preparing the transition from UN administration to local self-government.
Mr. Maples:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government have provided to the international effort to identify and investigate mass graves in Kosovo. [97064]
Mr. Hain:
A UK Scenes of Crime Team consisting of police and forensic personnel carried out investigations in Kosovo on behalf of the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia from 18 June to 24 October. The Team was responsible for exhuming bodies, establishing the cause of death and collecting other evidence at the sites of some of the worst atrocities.
Mr. Maples:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether the Kosovo Liberation Army's demilitarisation has been conducted in accordance with the terms of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and a consequent Demilitarisation Agreement. [97083]
Mr. Vaz:
UN Security Council Resolution 1244 gave the NATO-led international military force in Kosovo (KFOR) responsibility for demilitarising the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). On 20 September, KFOR reported that the KLA had complied with the undertaking to demilitarise which it had given to NATO on 21 June.
The then commander of KFOR, General Sir Mike Jackson, said on 13 October that over 10,000 weapons and 5 million rounds of ammunition had been handed in by the KLA. Any weapons now found on ex-KLA members are unlawfully held and are subject to seizure and destruction.
Mr. Maples:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which international organisation has the mandate to function as the primary investigative and prosecutional agency for criminal acts committed on the territory of Kosovo between March 1998 and 10 June 1999. [96948]
Mr. Vaz:
UN Security Council Resolution 1244, which established the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the NATO-led Kosovo force (KFOR), gives UNMIK responsibility for maintaining civil law and order in Kosovo. This includes investigations and prosecutions for alleged criminal acts committed on the territory of Kosovo before the deployment of UNMIK and KFOR in June 1999. In the case of possible war crimes, decisions would be made in consultation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
Mr. Maples:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the Kosovo Serbs' proposal regarding establishment of (a) Serb enclaves within Kosovo and (b) Serb defence forces. [97065]
Mr. Vaz:
We support, and are contributing to, the efforts of the international presences in Kosovo, the UN Mission (UNMIK) and the NATO-led international force (KFOR). UNMIK and KFOR are committed to promoting a secure environment in Kosovo for all ethnic groups.
2 Nov 1999 : Column: 124
They are making special efforts to protect members of minority groups judged to be at risk, including Kosovo Serbs.
We want Kosovo Serbs to participate in institutions established by the international presences in Kosovo, such as the police, the Kosovo Protection Corps and the civil administration. We would not support proposals for separate enclaves or protection forces.
Mr. Winnick:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest position in Kosovo. [95052]
Mr. Vaz:
The security situation has stabilised, due to the work of the NATO-led international force in Kosovo--KFOR, and the United Nations international police presence. Ethnic violence is still a problem, but KFOR and the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) are putting as many resources as possible into tackling this issue. The number of Serbs and other ethnic minorities leaving the province has fallen. Some are returning.
Efforts are underway to control the borders more effectively for the purposes of security and revenue collection. A new customs service has been established and police are now posted at border crossings. Life is slowly getting back to normal with rubbish collections; post offices, businesses, factories, schools and universities opening; rail services being restored and a police emergency service line. Water and power supplies are being rehabilitated--two out of the four electricity generating stations are now operational and health care facilities are vastly improved. To prepare for winter over 78,500 house rehabilitation or prefabrication kits are being distributed which will help almost half a million people. Over a million square metres have been cleared of land mines and unexploded ordnance.
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