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Ahmadi Muslims

Mr. Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Pakistan Government in respect of the (a) independence and (b) openness of the judicial inquiry into the murders of Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan. [140920]

Mr. Hain: We are aware that the local authorities in Pakistan have begun judicial inquiries into the disturbing recent attacks on Ahmadis in Punjab, Pakistan. We will continue to follow the progress of these inquiries closely, emphasising to the Pakistani authorities that it is in Pakistan's interest that they are seen to be transparent and independent.

Mr. Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning recent murders of Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement. [140760]

Mr. Hain: We are deeply concerned at reports of recent attacks on Ahmaddiyas in Ghatalian and Takht Hazara, Punjab, which resulted in the death of 10 Ahmadiyya worshippers and the wounding of many more.

We regularly raise our concerns about the position of Pakistan's Ahamdiyya community with the Pakistani authorities, most recently with the new Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK on 24 November.

I also wish to applaud the important contributions made by supporters of the Ahmadiyya to British Society.

The Ilois

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment Her Majesty's Government have made of the distribution of £4 million given to the Mauritius Government in 1982. [141065]

Mr. Battle: Under a 1982 Agreement between HMG and the Government of Mauritius, the £4 million paid by HMG was placed in a Trust Fund for the benefit of the Ilois. Power over the distribution of the funds rested with the Fund's Board of Trustees, made up of representatives of the Government of Mauritius and Ilois.

No recent assessment has been made of how the board distributed those funds.

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what offer has been made by the US Government on compensation to the Ilois. [141052]

Mr. Battle: None that we are aware of but this is a matter for the US Government.

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government will complete the feasibility study of the return of the Ilois to the island of Diego Garcia. [141053]

Mr. Battle: The feasibility study covers the outer islands, not Diego Garcia. It is too early to specify when the study will be completed. But the terms of reference for the studies, drawn up by independent consultants, make clear that it will not be in less than a year.

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Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to restore land to former inhabitants, under Clause 4 of the British Indian Ocean Territory Ordinance (2000). [141058]

Mr. Battle: In line with the recent court judgment, section 4 of the BIOT Immigration Ordinance 2000 allows the Ilois to visit and remain on the islands of the Territory, excluding Diego Garcia where access will continue to be controlled strictly and will be by permit only. Studies are in hand on the feasibility of resettlement of the outer islands of the territory.

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Her Majesty's Government have had with the US Administration over the return of the Ilois to Diego Garcia; and if he will make a statement on their employment prospects. [141059]

Mr. Battle: The stated hope of Ilois representatives to return to live on Diego Garcia has been discussed with US officials. While there are no plans for them to do so, there are no impediments in BIOT law or policy preventing Ilois from being employed by the contractors on Diego Garcia.

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what air access and port facilities are to be made available on Diego Garcia to the Ilois; and at what cost. [141056]

Mr. Battle: Our discussions with the Americans in the light of the court judgment indicate that these facilities will not be made available as a matter of course.

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government are planning to offer British citizenship to the Ilois on the same basis as other British Dependent Territory citizens. [141054]

Mr. Battle: This matter is being reviewed in the light of the recent court judgment.

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to facilitate the return of the people of the Ilois to their homeland. [141055]

Mr. Battle: The purpose of the feasibility study is to investigate to what extent the outer islands can be re-inhabited. Any further work will be subsequent to the outcome of this study.

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will establish a committee of inquiry to determine levels of compensation to be paid to the Ilois. [141064]

Mr. Battle: HMG have paid over £4.5 million for the direct benefit of the Ilois. There is no intention to make any further similar payments. But HMG are undertaking a comprehensive feasibility study, the results of which will give us a better idea of what is possible and what will need to be provided by way of physical and social infrastructure. The costs in terms of public funding will need to be considered at that point.

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Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what training and educational programmes Her Majesty's Government will finance for the Ilois. [141066]

Mr. Battle: The feasibility studies will consider what development activities could sustain a new civilian population in BIOT, and identify current skills among the Ilois population who wish to return to the territory. Only when these studies are complete will we be able to assess what is possible.

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to facilitate the development of improved economic conditions for the Ilois; and what is the time-frame. [141057]

Mr. Battle: The remit of the feasibility studies include economic, financial and social development issues.

Kosovo

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he has sent to the letter from Sir Arnold Wolfendale, sent to him on 17 October, on the subject of Kosovo. [141060]

Mr. Vaz: I will write to my hon. Friend shortly and place a copy of this letter in the Libraries of the House.

Avrupa Newspaper

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the attack on the Avrupa newspaper in Northern Cyprus on 27 November. [R] [140879]

Mr. Vaz: The Government are aware of a fire at the Avrupa newspaper printing house in northern Cyprus. The police are currently investigating the cause. We will continue to monitor the situation.

Dora Johnson

Mr. Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs upon what basis the refusal of entry clearance for Dora Johnson from Lagos, Nigeria was made. [141132]

Mr. Vaz: I will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

Anti-ballistic Missile Treaty

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason it is his policy to preserve and strengthen the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty; and how his Department intends to give effect to this policy. [141032]

Mr. Vaz: I will write to my hon. Friend shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty prohibits the deployment of anti-ballistic missile systems for nationwide defence. [141033]

Mr. Vaz: I will write to my hon. Friend shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

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International Criminal Court Bill

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the responses to the consultation on the draft International Criminal Court Bill; and if he will make a statement. [141046]

Mr. Hain: The Government received 45 submissions giving comments on the draft International Criminal Court Bill. Submissions were invited and received from parliamentarians, academics and lawyers as well as human rights, religious and professional organisations. Valuable suggestions were received. We will issue in due course a summary of the main points raised, together with our response.

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