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Logos and Branding
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent by his Department on departmental and agency logos and associated branding since 1 May 1997. [152657]
Mr. Wilson: We have spent £127,333 on departmental and associated branding since 1 May 1997.
Mrs. Ingrid Chare
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will
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reply to a letter dated 7 November 2000 concerning Mrs. Ingrid Chare, a constituent, whose address has been supplied to him. [152457]
Mr. Wilson [holding answer 7 March 2001]: My noble Friend Baroness Scotland of Asthal, FCO Minister responsible for consular matters, replied to my hon. Friend's letter on 7 March.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of the Saudi Arabian Government on the efforts of Mrs. Ingrid Chare to obtain compensation following the death of her husband, Mr. John Bernard Chare. [152459]
Mr. Wilson [holding answer 7 March 2001]: Our Consulate in Jeddah has raised this matter with the Saudi authorities on over six occasions in the last 12 months. Compensation matters such as these do take some time to resolve. Our Consulate will continue to press the judge for a decision on the Blood Money in this case. We are waiting for confirmation of the exact date the papers to be served on Mr. Chare's former company were passed to the Saudi authorities. Our Embassy in Riyadh and our Consulate in Jeddah are currently closed for the Eid holiday. However, my noble Friend Baroness Scotland of Asthal, FCO Minister responsible for consular matters, will write directly to my hon. Friend once we have this information.
Afghanistan
Mr. Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any goods subject to strategic export controls have recently been approved for export to Afghanistan. [153209]
Mr. Wilson: The Department of Trade and Industry recently issued two export licences for mine-clearance equipment for use by the HALO Trust to assist their demining activities in Afghanistan. These goods appear on the Military list. However, UNSCR 1333 (2000) which imposes inter alia an arms embargo on Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, it provides scope for the UN Sanctions Committee to approve of non-lethal military equipment intended solely for humanitarian or protective use to Taliban-controlled territory. The Sanctions Committee has given its approval in these cases.
The granting of these export licences are fully consistent with the UN Security Council resolutions and does not affect the Government's continued support for the EU common position on arms exports to Afghanistan.
South Georgia
Mr. Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards establishing a fully civilian presence on South Georgia. [153210]
Mr. Battle: In 1998 the Government announced their intention to establish a fully civilian presence on South Georgia. From the end of March, the small military detachment will be withdrawn. The Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and the Commander British Forces, based in the Falkland Islands,
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will continue to have responsibility for ensuring the security of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
At the same time, the British Antarctic Survey will be opening a new scientific base on South Georgia. The scientific and support team will augment the existing civilian presence on the island. New accommodation and science facilities have been built. BAS will undertake a programme of scientific research, under contract to the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The aim will be to support the Government in environmental management and sustainable development of the Territory.
The opening of this new facility, with funding from the British Government, the Government of the Falkland Islands and the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands demonstrates our commitment to the Overseas Territories, in accordance with the Overseas Territories White Paper 1999, in particular to sound environmental management of a territory with a unique and sensitive ecosystem.
Our commitment to the maintenance of British sovereignty over South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and to ensuring their security, remains as firm as ever.
Liberia
Mr. Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes there have been in United Nations sanctions in relation to Liberia. [153352]
Mr. Wilson: UN Security Council resolution 1344 (2001), imposing mandatory UN sanctions in relation to Liberia, was adopted on 7 March. The resolution was co-sponsored by the UK and US in response to the findings of the UN Expert Panel on Sierra Leone on violations of the Sierra Leone arms embargo and the link between the trade in diamonds and arms. The Security Council determined that the active support provided by the Government of Liberia for armed rebel groups in neighbouring countries, and in particular the RUF in Sierra Leone, constitutes a threat to international peace and security in the region.
The new measures are as follows:
- an embargo on the export of arms and related material to Liberia, and a ban on the provision to Liberia of related technical assistance and training;
- a ban on the import by UN member states of any rough diamonds from Liberia, whether or not such diamonds originated in Liberia.
- a travel ban on senior members of the Liberian military and their spouses and any other individuals providing financial and military support to armed rebel groups in countries neighbouring Liberia, as designated by the UN Sanctions Committee.
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The arms embargo and the ban on the provision of related technical assistance and training, which entered into force immediately upon the adoption of the resolution, are established for a period of 14 months. The other measures will be established for a period of 12 months. At the end of this period, the Council will decide whether the Government of Liberia has complied with its demands and, accordingly, whether to extend these measures for a further period.
The resolution lifts the former arms embargo imposed on Liberia by UN Security Council resolution 788 (1992) in response to concerns regarding the civil war in that country.
New Orders will be made to implement the new measures in the UK, the Crown Dependencies and the Overseas Territories under the United Nations Act 1946 and by other legislative and administrative means as necessary.
Iran
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Iranian Government on the exclusion of the (a) Simon Wiesenthal centre and (b) Bahai international community from the United Nations world conference against racism, xenophobia, racial discrimination and related intolerance hosted by Iran. [152667]
Mr. Wilson: We have not made any representations to the Iranian Government in this instance. However, we and our EU partners take every opportunity to raise such issues, particularly those concerning discrimination and human rights, in Tehran and in London.
In conjunction with our EU partners we also table twice-yearly UN resolutions on human rights in Iran. The most recent resolution, reflecting both positive developments and remaining concerns, was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 4 December.
DEFENCE
Defence Events
Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for major future defence public events; and if he will make a statement. [153202]
Mr. Hoon: In 1999 my predecessor announced a series of events, now under the umbrella title Defence 2000, which would follow the ending of the Royal Tournament. The spirit of the Tournament would be taken forward with an event in London and a military festival held annually outside the capital at different military locations. The Royal Military Tattoo 2000 held on Horse Guards Parade last summer was a major undertaking for the Armed Services. It was the Ministry of Defence's principal contribution to the Millennium celebrations and was an outstanding success. London will continue to be well served with military pageantry not least in terms of State occasions, the annual Beat Retreat and Queen's Birthday Parade. We intend to identify possible future occasions where an event on the scale of RMT 2000 would be both appropriate and practicable.
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In 2001, the Royal Navy will host the first regional event in Portsmouth. It will build on the very successful International Festival of the Sea format, held previously in Bristol in 1996 and Portsmouth in 1998. This year's International Festival of the Sea will feature significant contributions from all three Services under the title Defence 2001. These regional events will allow our Armed Services to display their latest equipment, as well as providing a glimpse into the future. There will be no regional event in 2002 because of the involvement of the Armed Services in the celebrations for The Queen's Golden Jubilee, in particular the Royal Visit to the Armed Services at Portsmouth and the Thanksgiving Service at St. Paul's Cathedral. The Royal Air Force will host the regional event in 2003 and the Army in 2004.
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