House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 3 Mar 2003 (pt 20)

3 Mar 2003 : Column 845W—continued

International Criminal Court

Tony Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what account he has taken of the scope of US federal law in deciding whether to conclude a bilateral Article 98 treaty relating to the International Criminal Court. [98386]

Mr. Rammell: In considering such an Agreement, we shall be guided by the Principles agreed by EU Foreign Ministers on 30 September 2002.The Principles envisage that an Agreement will include appropriate operative provisions ensuring that persons who have committed crimes falling within the jurisdiction of the ICC do not enjoy impunity. Such provisions should ensure appropriate investigation and—where there is sufficient evidence—prosecution by the US authorities of persons requested by the ICC.

Iraq

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the number of Iraqis killed or tortured in each year since Saddam Hussein came to power. [100059]

3 Mar 2003 : Column 846W

Mr. Mike O'Brien: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. Keetch) today (UIN 99526).

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on how many estimated Iraqi civilian deaths have been directly caused by the regime of Saddam Hussein (a) prior to 1990, (b) since 1990, (c) since 1998 and (d) since November 2002; and if he will make a statement. [99526]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Precise figures are not available. But it is clear that Saddam Hussein's regime is responsible for many Iraqi civilian deaths. Amnesty International's report "Iraq: State cruelty: branding, amputation and the death penalty"—April 1996, deplores "the disappearance or extrajudicial execution of hundreds of thousands of people—including whole communities—for political reasons, and the widespread use of the death penalty for numerous criminal and political offences after unfair trials. The Iraqi Government has sanctioned mass killings and torture as a matter of policy..." The testimonies of Iraqi exiles give credence to these and other similar reports.

John "Jackie" Elliot

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to (a) the United States Federal Authorities, (b) the Texas State Authorities and (c) the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to plead for clemency for John 'Jackie' Elliot. [92313]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Representations were made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to the Governor of Texas, the hon. Rick Perry, and to the Chairman of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, Gerald Garret; my noble Friend Baroness Amos also wrote to Gerald Garret; and to other Texas State officials who had a role in the decision making process of the Paroles and Pardons Board in this case. The US Federal Authorities have no direct role in the Texas parole and pardons process.

These representations made clear HMG's opposition to the death penalty and urged that Mr. Elliott's sentence of death be commuted to a term of imprisonment. In making our representations, we sought information from key officials in Texas to ensure that we were doing all that we could to prevent the execution from taking place. We were in regular and close contact with Mr. Elliott's lawyers and were ready to make further representations as appropriate. Mr. Elliott was executed on 4 February.

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Texan authorities regarding the pending execution of Mr. John 'Jackie' Elliott; and if he will make a statement. [92788]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Anniesland (John Robertson) today, UIN 92313.

3 Mar 2003 : Column 847W

Kurdish Autonomous Region (Northern Iraq)

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what guarantees of autonomy have been offered to the Kurdish parties in Northern Iraq after any US-led invasion has taken place; [100280]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: I am not aware of any guarantees given to the Kurdish administrations in Northern Iraq by Turkey. But the UK is committed to the maintenance of Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its current borders. The only secure long-term future for the Kurds and other minority groups in Northern Iraq is as part of a stable, peaceful Iraq, which gives them a negotiated degree of autonomy.

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with the Government of Iran concerning their approach to the Kurdish autonomous region of Northern Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [100281]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: We regularly discuss Iraq policy with out Iranian counterparts. Like the UK, the Iranians tell us that Iran is committed to the maintenance of Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its current borders. The only secure long-term future for the Kurds and other minority groups in Northern Iraq is as part of a stable, peaceful Iraq, which gives them a negotiated degree of autonomy.

Malta

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Malta regarding their referendum on EU membership. [99737]

Mr. MacShane: My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary met Dr. Fenech Adami, Prime Minister of Malta, in London on 18 February 2003. Malta's EU membership was one of the subjects discussed. The decision on Malta's EU membership is one for the Maltese people alone to make, in the referendum on 8 March.

Mobile Phones

Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many mobile phones have been used and at what cost by (a) himself and Ministers in his Department, (b) special advisers in his Department and (c) his departmental officials in each year since 1997; [98572]

(a)

(b)

(c)

3 Mar 2003 : Column 848W

Mr. Rammell: Information is not held in the form requested and, particularly with regard to posts overseas, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Publicity Campaigns

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 31 January 2003, Official Report, column 1089W, if he will list the publicity campaigns which account for his Department's publicity expenditure in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; and if he will make a statement. [98500]

Mr. Rammell: Most of the expenditure listed in my answer of 31 January 2003, Official Report, column 1089W, is deployed in support of the FCO's efforts to promote greater understanding and awareness of the UK to overseas audiences, to project the UK's strengths and increase trade, inward investment, tourism and the influence of UK foreign policy. This includes expenditure on events, creative work, research and production of videos, leaflets and posters. Details of how each activity supports individual FCO objectives are not held centrally and these activities are not managed as separately identifiable publicity campaigns.

An exception is the FCO's consular publicity campaigns, which are aimed at encouraging travellers to be better prepared before going overseas. These account for £1,141,459 in 2001–02 and £1,060,000 in 2002–03.

Spain

Mr. Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to hold meetings with the Government of Spain under the Brussels Process; and what consultation with the Government of Gibraltar will take place in advance of such meetings. [99952]

Mr. MacShane: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 11 December 2002 to the hon. Member for West Suffolk (Mr. Spring), Official Report, column 380W. The Government have always wanted the Government of Gibraltar to be fully involved in discussion within the Brussels Process.

United Nations Security Council

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the vetoes in the Security Council used on (a) 17 May 1995, (b) 30 June 2002, (c) 14 December 2001, (d) 27 March 2001, (e) 21 March 1997, (f) 7 March 1997, (g) 10 January 1997, (h) 11 May 1993 and (i) 2 December 1994. [98330]

Mr. Rammell: The US vetoes on 17 May 1995, 7 March 1997, 21 March 1997, 27 March 2001, 14 December 2001 were in respect of the Israel/Palestine situation.

The US veto on 30 June 2002 was in respect of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The other vetoes listed were not by the US:

The veto on 11 May 1993 was by Russia in respect of Cyprus.

3 Mar 2003 : Column 849W

The veto on 2 December 1994 was by Russia in respect of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The veto on 10 January 1997 was by China in respect of Central America.

The Government believe that the veto should be used with restraint, and in a manner consistent with the principles of the UN Charter.

Next Section

Index

Home Page