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United Nations Charter

Tony Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what his policy is on application of Article 16 of the Rome Statute; and if he will make a statement; [116910]

(2) what action the Security Council took, in passing Resolution 1422, to determine whether there was a threat to international peace and security that justified taking powers under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter; [116913]

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(3) what threat to international peace and security existed when he invoked Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter and supported Resolution 1422 of the Security Council. [116911]

Mr. Rammell: Article 16 of the Rome Statute provides for the deferral of investigations or prosecutions by the International Criminal Court when the UN Security Council determines that such action would not be in the interests of international peace and security. On such occasions Security Council members, including the United Kingdom, would consult and act collectively.

Security Council Resolution 1422 was adopted by unanimity under Chapter VII after intensive consultations within the Security Council. As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said in his press release of 13 July 2002, the Security Council acted to ensure that the International Criminal Court was not undermined; to ensure that UN operations, in Bosnia and elsewhere, were able to continue and to ensure that the US would remain engaged in providing personnel and support to peacekeeping operations around the world. In short, to protect the Court and preserve peacekeeping.

Iraq

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken in Iraq to ensure that (a) individuals are subject to justice before the law and (b) a programme for justice has been implemented that incorporates a method of partnership, such as mixed tribunals. [118972]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Coalition Forces continue to maintain basic law and order and, accordingly, continue to arrest and detain individuals suspected of criminal activity.

Judges, police and prosecutors are being called back to work and it is expected that local courts will take on increasing numbers of cases in the coming weeks.

The Coalition Provisional Authority is undertaking an assessment of the capacity and needs of the Iraqi justice sector, through analysis of the situation on the ground and listening to the wishes of the Iraqi people. The results and recommendations of this exercise will result in key capacity building measures.

Mrs Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken to ensure that (a) no Iraqi civilians are expelled from Iraq without tribunal and (b) no Iraqi citizen in exile is forcibly returned to Iraq from the UK. [118974]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: International law prohibits the expulsion of Iraqi nationals from Iraq except in limited circumstances for security or imperative military reasons. There are no plans to expel Iraqi nationals from Iraq and, in any event, the UK will continue to act in accordance with its international legal obligations.

The UK and other EU member states are working with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to establish an international framework for safe and managed returns to Iraq. We support the UNHCR's aim to put in place a voluntary repatriation programme for Iraqis as soon as possible. We are not

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currently enforcing the return of failed Iraqi asylum seekers, although we will review this when we consider it appropriate.

Mrs Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken to ensure that Iraqis charged with human rights violations under the Geneva Convention are (a) given legal representation, (b) protected from coercion, torture and ill treatment and (c) have the legal right to appeal against their detention. [118980]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Individuals who are detained by Coalition Forces will be treated in accordance with our international legal obligations.

The Coalition Provisional Authority is currently undertaking an assessment of the capacity and needs of the Iraqi justice sector. The recommendations of this exercise will result in key capacity building measures.

Mrs Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken to ensure the implementation of UN Resolution 57/232 to deploy human rights monitors in Iraq. [118981]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The fall of Saddam Hussein's regime brought to an end a long period of violations of the Iraqi people's human rights. As requested in UN Security Council Resolution 1483, the UN Secretary-General has appointed a Special Representative whose responsibilities include promoting the protection of human rights.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) is taking this forward and has requested an initial US$1.5 million for the provision of Human Rights Officers. The UK has agreed to allocate £400,000 (US$650,000) towards the UNHCR's request. Our allocation will fund sixty percent of the immediate start-up costs of deploying Human Rights Officers and supporting their work.

North Korea

Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the objectives are of Government policy towards North Korea. [120500]

Mr. Rammell: The UK maintains a policy of engagement with North Korea in order to encourage it to become a responsible member of the international community. We use our regular opportunities for direct dialogue with the North Korean Government to urge it to end missile exports, respect the integrity of the international non-proliferation regime, address the serious concerns about its human rights record, and commit to a multilateral dialogue to find a peaceful resolution to the nuclear issue.

Sustainable Development

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department's strategy for sustainable development will be published; and how he will take forward the actions outlined in it. [120050]

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Mr. Straw: The FCO has incorporated its work on sustainable development into its overall strategy. This is reflected in the FCO Business Plan 2003–6, which has been recently published. This sets out the Public Service Agreements and the plans to deliver them. Our policy work on sustainable development is spearheaded by PSA 7 to "make globalisation work for sustainable development in the UK and internationally, particularly Africa". The FCO also has a programme to improve the sustainable development of its estate, which is available on the FCO website (www.fco.gov.uk).

The FCO is currently reviewing its overall strategy. In this process it is examining the development of a related sustainable development strategy.

Timber

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department's procurement policy includes measures relating to timber used on and in the construction of Foreign and Commonwealth building projects; and if he will make a statement. [120053]

Mr. Straw: Our procurement policy is that timber must be obtained from legal and sustainable sources. Detailed guidance has been issued to departments responsible for major construction projects. We are considering the practicalities of extending this guidance to cover minor building works which our Posts overseas fund from their devolved budgets.

Consular General (United States)

Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the difference was between the amount the Estates Department in Croydon gave on the value of the Consul General's apartment in New York and the amount it was sold for. [120282]

Mr. Rammell: [holding answer 19 June 2003]: The decision in principle to replace the Consul General's previous residence with a more modern apartment was taken in July 2001. At that time the valuation of the property was US$15 million, although brokers advised that a price of US$17 million was a possibility.

We concluded negotiations for the new residence in November 2001. Advice from brokers before the former residence went on the market in January 2002 provided sale price estimates ranging between US$15.5 and US$20 million.

I am withholding details of the provisionally agreed sale price for the former residence, under exemption 7 (a) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, as the information is commercially sensitive. Once the sale is completed, I will be in a position to answer as to the sale price.

Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department received for the sale of the Consul General's apartment in New York. [120283]

Mr. Rammell [holding answer 19 June 2003]: .A sale has been agreed subject to contract and subject also to the approval of the purchaser by the managing board of the cooperative of apartment owners in the block. I am

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withholding details of the provisionally agreed price under exemption 7 (a) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, as the matter is commercially sensitive. Once the sale is completed, I will be in a position to answer as to the sale price.

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