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19 May 2003 : Column 586W—continued

Russian Federation

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on discrimination on grounds of race relations in the Russian federation. [110211]

Mr. MacShane: Combating racism and intolerance is an integral part of the protection and promotion of human rights and a key UK commitment at home and abroad. We are fully aware that discrimination on the grounds of race is a serious problem in Russia, as a result of human rights reporting produced by our embassy in Moscow and our regular contacts with NGOs including Amnesty International.

The Russian Federation's most recent report to the committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination highlighted the many positive steps taken by the Government to implement the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination. However, it also acknowledged some of the problems faced by minorities in Russia, including reports of nationality-motivated discrimination by law-enforcement officers and officials. Other recent reports on this issue include one by the Moscow Helsinki Group published in September 2002.

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Somalia

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on Somaliland. [111738]

Mr. Rammell: UK policy on Somalia and Somaliland has two objectives:

to see peace and stability established throughout Somalia. We have encouraged the National Reconciliation Process initiated by the regional organisation the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and we welcomed the Declaration on cessation of hostilities signed on 27 October 2002.


for Somaliland, which is not taking part in the Conference, to reach a political settlement with the rest of the country. This can only happen at a later stage in the reconciliation process. It will be for the people of Somaliland to decide for themselves if they are ready to engage in talks with the rest of Somalia.

We provided over £150,000 to the electoral process in Somaliland to encourage local democracy and the development of a viable and legitimate administration. We are also considering how we might increase our development assistance.

Sudan

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Sudanese Government regarding their refusal to provide security clearance for the flights of the verification and monitoring team in Sudan. [112178]

Mr. Rammell: On 7 April the Government of Sudan lifted flight restrictions imposed on the Civilian Protection Monitoring Team in March. On 7 April the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Special Envoy announced that the Verification Monitoring Team's (VMT) mission to Bentiu had been suspended. This followed concerns expressed by the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army about the tasking of the VMT. The IGAD Special Envoy has now proposed a compromise position which we hope will be acceptable to both parties and we continue to work with the mediators to ensure the operationalisation of the VMT as soon as possible.

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he is making to those countries who voted against the resolution to continue to monitor Sudan's human rights record in the UN. [112179]

Mr. Rammell: We are disappointed that the EU sponsored resolution on Sudan was not adopted by the UN Commission on Human Rights on 16 April. We lobbied members of the Commission on Human Rights about the resolution before the vote was taken, arguing that Sudan's human rights situation continued to deserve action by the commission. We will consult EU partners about what next steps to take to help address the human rights situation in Sudan.

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Turkey

Mr. Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations his Department has made to the Turkish Government regarding EU recommendations that Turkey should guarantee access to legal counsel for all detainees from the moment of detention. [113139]

Mr. MacShane: FCO officials most recently discussed access to legal counsel for detainees with their Turkish counterparts at the latest round of the UK-Turkey Human Rights Dialogue, which took place in London on 26 November 2002.

Mr. Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Turkish Government regarding the use of torture on juveniles in Turkish prisons and police precincts. [113140]

Mr. MacShane: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him today (UIN 113141). In addition, FCO officials discussed the use of torture on juveniles in prisons and police precincts with their Turkish counterparts at the latest round of an on-going UK-Turkey Human Rights Dialogue in London on 26 November 2002.

Mr. Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with (a) the Turkish Government and (b) the European Union regarding the use of torture in Turkish prisons and police precincts. [113141]

Mr. MacShane: FCO officials frequently discuss the use of torture in prisons and police precincts with the Turkish authorities, including in the context of the human rights projects that we run specifically to help Turkey put a stop to such abuses. The FCO also collaborated with the European Commission on the wording of the revised EU-Turkey Accession Partnership, which sets out priorities that Turkey must meet in order to open accession negotiations with the European Union. These priorities cover a broad range of human rights issues, including the use of torture.

Mr. Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with (a) the Turkish Government and (b) the European Union regarding the police raid on the Human Rights Association in Ankara. [113143]

Mr. MacShane: The British Embassy in Ankara raised the police raid on the Human Rights Association with a senior official at the Prime Minister's Office on 14 May. They will continue to discuss such human rights issues, at all appropriate levels, as part of our dialogue about reforms in Turkey. We are actively discussing it with our European partners—for example, at the 12 May meeting of the South East Europe Working Group in Brussels. The raid was also the subject of a debate in the European Parliament and a strong statement of concern issued by the European Commission on 13 May.

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NORTHERN IRELAND

Craigavon Area Hospital

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the closure of the mortuary facilities at Craigavon Area Hospital. [113366]

Mr. Browne: From 23 December 2002 all post-mortem work was relocated from Craigavon Area Hospital to Belfast on a temporary basis. This arrangement is necessary to enable the existing mortuary facilities to be upgraded in compliance with current standards and to achieve accreditation by Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) Ltd. The upgrade will also provide improved facilities for use by both staff and visitors. It is anticipated that the work will be completed by October 2003. In the interim period the mortuary continues to provide a storage facility for bodies not requiring post-mortem but awaiting collection by the family's funeral director.

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any (a) organs, (b) blocks and (c) slides (i) are being and (ii) have been retained in the last five years at Craigavon Area hospital. [113368]

Mr. Browne: Craigavon Area Hospitals Group Trust has retained organs or parts of organs following hospital post-mortem examinations within the last five years. At present there are parts of organs from three adult post-mortem examinations. These were previously declared to the Human Organs Inquiry in 2001. The Trust has confirmed that no organs have been retained since 2001 without the specific consent of the next of kin. They further advise that tissue blocks and slides have been retained from hospital post-mortem examinations within the last five years. Those prepared prior to 2001 have been returned to the next of kin on request. Those prepared since 2001were returned, prior to the burial of the deceased, if this was requested in the hospital post-mortem consent form.

Crime (International Co-operation) Bill

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the consultations which have taken place with the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman in relation to the Crime (International Co-operation) Bill. [109047]

Jane Kennedy: No consultations have taken place with the Police Ombudsman in relation to the Crime (International Co-operation) Bill.

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