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12 Mar 2003 : Column 285W—continued
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Deported Resistants
Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government has to be represented at the official opening of the European Centre for Deported Resistants scheduled for April 2005 in Natzweiler-Struhof, France. [102141]
Mr. MacShane: The Government will decide on attendance nearer the time of the opening.
Libya
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what recent assessment his Department has made of (a) the freedom of speech, (b) the freedom of the press, (c) the freedom of association and (d) the freedom of religion in Libya; [101793]
- (2) what recent assessment his Department has made of human rights violations by (a) the Libyan Government and (b) the Libyan security forces; [101791]
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(3) what recent assessment his Department has made of levels of political violence and repression by the Libyan Government; [101795]
(4) what recent assessment his Department has made of the use of forced labour by the Libyan Government; [101794]
(5) what recent assessment his Department has made of discrimination against tribal groups in Libya; [101792]
(6) what action his Department is taking to raise the issue of Libya's record on human rights at the United Nations. [101796]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Diplomatic links with Libya were re-established in July 1999, and since then, our embassy has been active in developing links with various human rights organisations in the country. However, access for international human rights NGOs to visit has been rare, and it is difficult to obtain detailed information on the various human rights issues raised by the hon. Member. There have been some positive signs: in September 2002, the Libyan Government announced the release of all political prisoners other than those it has linked to al-Qaeda; in January 2003, they commuted the death sentence on three Ghanaians and one Nigerian; and earlier this year, the Qadhafi Foundation for Charitable Associations launched an anti-torture campaign. We are also encouraged by Colonel Qadhafi's reference, in a speech on 31 August 2002, to the need to discuss abolition of the political "People's" courts. However, we remain concerned about the overall human rights situation in Libya and encourage the Libyans to show they are committed to improving their record during their high-profile chairmanship of the forthcoming Commission on Human Rights (CHR). In the meantime, we are discussing with EU partners whether to make reference to Libya at this year's CHR.
Alenia Marconi Radar System
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations the UK Government had with other EU member states prior to granting an export control licence for the sale of the Alenia Marconi Systems radar system to the Government of Sudan; and which EU member state the UK Government had to notify subsequent to the application for an export control licence being approved. [96645]
Mr. Rammell [holding answer 10 February 2003]: The Government do not normally comment on specific licences, nor on discussions with other EU member states. All export licence applications for Sudan are assessed against the EU consolidated criteria, announced to Parliament on 26 October 2002.
Angola
Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Baroness Amos had with the Government of Angola regarding (a) illegal diamond trafficking, (b) mine removal programmes, (c) the peace process in that country and (d) humanitarian aid to that country during her recent visit to Africa; and if she will make a statement. [101801]
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Mr. Rammell: My noble Friend Baroness Amos has made two recent visits to Angola. In her first visit, she discussed a wide range of political, economic and humanitarian issues, including mine removal, the peace process and development programmes. She has also discussed regional and international issues with the Government of Angola.
Arab-Israel Conflict
Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the conclusions of the Palestinian reform conference in London on 14 January; what his latest assessment is of the Bush peace plan; what assessment he has made of the proposals put forward by the Israeli Prime Minister for a resolution of the conflict; and if he will make a statement. [101824]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The London meeting on 14 January had a positive impact on Palestinian reform and nation-building efforts. In particular, it advanced work on constitutional reform and the appointment of a Prime Minister. Quartet representatives meeting in London between 18 and 20 February recorded their appreciation of its value in paving the way for the early implementation of the roadmap, the internationally-accepted means of realising President Bush's vision of a peace settlement. We look forward to the early publication of that roadmap now that a new Israeli Government is in place.
Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) the US Administration, (b) the EU, (c) the UN and (d) Arab countries regarding the proposals put forward by the Israeli Prime Minister for a resolution of the Arab-Israel conflict; and if he will make a statement. [101825]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The policies of both parties to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute are the subject of constant discussion between the UK and other interested third parties, including the US, UN and EU, as Quartet members, and the Arab Three—Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. As we have made clear, we look to the new Israeli Government to signal without delay its acceptance of the Quartet roadmap in its present form.
Award Schemes
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the award schemes in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by the Department; what their scope was; when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time. [102054]
Mr. Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office promoted no award schemes in 2001. In 2002, the FCO organised a competition with a prize worth £1,250 for the best essay that addressed an international economic issue likely to pose major challenges for policy-makers over the next five years.
To be eligible, participants had to be undertaking a first or postgraduate degree at a UK university in straight economics or with a substantial economics component. Employees of the FCO and their relatives
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were not eligible to apply. Essays had to be between 5,000 and 7,000 words. The essay must not have been previously published. It was a condition of applying that the authors grant the FCO the right to publish the prize-winning essays. Entries had to be typed and accompanied by an application form signed by the entrant's course tutor or research supervisor.
Results were sent out in April 2002. Non-winning entrants were notified at the same time.
Bangladesh
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Bangladeshi Government about the new law in Bangladesh that provides immunity to members of the armed forces in cases where civilians have been killed; and if he will make a statement. [101347]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Our high commission in Dhaka and their EU colleagues have discussed mistreatment of detainees held under Operation Clean Heart with the Bangladesh authorities and specifically raised concerns over the draft Indemnity Ordinance. The Joint Indemnity Bill was passed by Parliament on 23 February. It included an amendment allowing security forces to take internal action, including by court marshal, to punish wrongdoers. We look to the Bangladesh Government to ensure perpetrators of human rights abuses are brought to justice.
Commercial Matters (Overseas Guidance)
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance his Department provides to officials in UK embassies and diplomatic missions overseas with regard to the arrangement and conduct of (a) meetings and (b) telephone discussions concerning commercial matters. [102387]
Mr. Rammell [holding answer 11 March 2003]: No specific guidance has been issued regarding the arrangement or conduct of meetings or telephone discussions concerning commercial matters. General guidance to staff in British Trade International, including staff in overseas posts, emphasises the need to ensure that information provided by business contacts is handled carefully and that information received from or about a British business should not be disclosed, without the latter's permission, to other firms or organisations.
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