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5 Mar 2003 : Column 1057W—continued
British Detainees
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the work of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in investigating cases of UK subjects imprisoned overseas. [99935]
Mr. Rammell: The UK co-sponsored last year's UN Commission on Human Rights resolution on the question of arbitrary detention which encouraged all Governments to implement the recommendations of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concerning those detained for a number of years; and to take appropriate measures to ensure that their legislation, regulations and practices were in conformity with the relevant international standards and the relevant international legal instruments.
Regarding Working Group rulings on the detention of UK citizens overseas, the UK has taken account of the Working Group's views and, where necessary, taken appropriate steps to remedy the situation of persons arbitrarily deprived of their liberty.
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Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made on behalf of George Atkinson to the Government of Dubai following the letter from the Jumeirah prison authorities of 19 March 2002 indicating that his sentence had been completed. [99937]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: We understand that in Dubai, when a prisoner has served three-quarters of a sentence, the prison authorities routinely report this to the judicial authorities. However, any decision to release a prisoner early is at the discretion of the local authorities and is not automatic. In early 2001 the Ruler's Court informed Mr Atkinson's solicitors of Dubai's legal position in relation to Mr Atkinson's sentence, and specifically of the linkage between payment of the fine imposed by the court and time served in prison. Our Embassy have provided information to Mr Atkinson's UK lawyers about local lawyers who can assist with local courts. The British Government does not normally intervene in the judicial processes of other countries.
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Dubai following the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention's opinion 16/2002 confirming their opinion 17/1998 that George Atkinson be released forthwith; and if he will make a statement. [99940]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in its opinion 17/1998 found that the detention of George Atkinson in Dubai from 1 March 1997 until 13 December 1999 was arbitrary. A subsequent report by the Working Group, in December 2002 (opinion 16/2002), stated that it was not clear whether George Atkinson's detention since 14 December 1999 was arbitrary. Although we do not normally intervene in the judicial process of other countries, we are in contact with Mr Atkinson's lawyer and will continue to do all we properly can for him.
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Dubai following the treatment George Atkinson received in Jumeirah prison on 30th July 2002. [99936]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Last summer there were a number of riots at Dubai's Jumeirah prison. George Atkinson and a number of other British detainees were injured. Of course our primary concern is the welfare of British detainees and, following the riots, our consular staff immediately visited George Atkinson and the other affected British detainees. Our Consul-General met the Dubai Chief of Police on 20 August, to express our serious concerns at the incidents in the prison, and the treatment of British prisoners during those events. Our Consul-General also raised the incidents with the Director of the Ruler's Court, and sought assurances that there would be no recurrence of the problems at the prison.
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list British subjects imprisoned in the Middle East and the length of time that each has been imprisoned. [99938]
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Mr. Mike O'Brien: At 27 February 2003 the known British prison population in the following countries stood at
- Israel: 2
Lebanon:1
Syria: none
Jordan: none
Iraq: none
Egypt: 4
Saudi Arabia: 10
Kuwait: 1
Bahrain: 1
Qatar: none
United Arab Emirates: 20
Oman: 2
Yemen: 4
Iran: none
Falkland Islands
Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with the feasibility study into the clearance of mines from the Falkland Islands. [99657]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The UK-led feasibility study into demining the Falkland Islands is to be carried out under the supervision of a Joint Working Party. At its first meeting, held in Buenos Aires in December 2001, progress was made on the overall aims of the study and technical and management issues. The UK has appointed a National Mine Action Authority to allow for future work in the Falklands, in line with International Mine Action Standards. We remain committed to the feasibility study and to moving ahead as soon as Argentine funds become available.
Sudan
Mr. Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether rebel groups have seized the town of Gulu in Darfur; and what steps his Department is taking in conjunction with other Departments to investigate the conflict in Darfur, western Sudan. [100705]
Mr. Rammell: Historically there have been clashes between armed groups in Darfur over access to land and water; there are also long-standing claims of insufficient development in the region. Recently these issues have come to a head. The frequency of clashes has increased and Government forces have also become involved. The town of Gulu was taken by armed fighters three weeks ago. The town has since returned to the control of the Government.
The British Embassy in Khartoum continues to discuss the situation in Darfur with a wide range of Government and National Congress party officials in addition to Darfur MPs and other local representatives.
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Her Majesty's Ambassador to Khartoum has requested permission to visit Darfur and will do so as soon as possible.
Iraq
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received in respect of those countries that assisted Iraq in the development of the Al-Samoud-2 missile. [100041]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: There are reports that Iraq has received assistance with the development of the Al-Samoud-2 missile from outside Iraq.
It is not Government practice to comment in detail on intelligence matters.
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has had discussions with the US and European partners concerning women's involvement at all levels in the administration planned after military action in Iraq. [100045]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: No decision has been taken to launch military action against Iraq. Our policy remains to ensure Iraq complies with its obligations under relevant Security Council resolutions, including by giving up its weapons of mass destruction. As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said in his 7 January statement, Official Report, column 4–5WS on our Iraq policy objectives, we would like Iraq to become a stable, united and law-abiding state, within its present borders, co-operating with the international community, no longer posing a threat to its neighbours or to international security, abiding by all its international obligations and providing effective and representative government for its own people.
North Korea
Mr Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the weapons of mass destruction which North Korea has admitted possessing. [98831]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: North Korea has not admitted to possession of any weapons of mass destruction. However, since being confronted by the US over its covert uranium enrichment programme in October 2002, a Foreign Ministry spokesman claimed on 25 October that North Korea was "entitled to possess" nuclear weapons as well as weapons "more powerful" than nuclear weapons.
North Korean possession of nuclear weapons would be a clear violation of its international obligations as a State Party to the NPT. North Korea is also a State Party to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, but has neither signed nor ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention.
EU Rapid Reaction Force
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the Franco-British joint paper
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presented to the EU foreign ministers calling for the proposed EU Rapid Reaction Force to be deployed in Bosnia from early 2004. [100266]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I have placed in the Library a copy of the Franco-British joint paper presented to the EU foreign ministers calling for an EU-led military operation to be deployed in Bosnia from Spring 2004.
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