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30 Jun 2003 : Column 54W—continued
Defence Contracts
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has made to President Bush to secure (a) greater access for (i) BAE Systems and (ii) other British defence contractors to US military contracts and (b) increased sharing of defence technology between the US and UK. [122716]
The Prime Minister: When I met President Bush shortly after his inauguration we underlined our shared commitment to the removal of unnecessary barriers to transatlantic defence trade. More recently, operations in Iraq have emphasised the need to ensure that there are no impediments to our military forces working together, and I have suggested to President Bush that we should consider further steps to improve arrangements for the flow of information between the United States and the United Kingdom.
E-mail Addresses
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 10 February 2003, Official Report, column 582W, on e-mail addresses, when he expects an e-mail address by which members of the public may contact him to be made available; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in making such an address available. [122274]
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The Prime Minister: I can confirm that an e-mail address will be made available during August. It had been hoped to make an e-mail address available earlier in 2003 but the high number of visitors to the No. 10 website over the last few months, has meant that more work has been necessary to ensure the robustness, integrity and security of the system.
European Constitution
Mr. Evans: To ask the Prime Minister in which policy areas the United Kingdom will consider giving up its veto under the new European Constitution. [122580]
The Prime Minister: More Qualified Majority Voting is essential to push through our solutions to Europe-wide problems in key areas, such as immigration and asylum. But we have areas on which we would not be prepared to move away from unanimity. As we made clear in the Convention, we would not agree to any changes on common foreign and security policy, defence, taxation or social security which would threaten the national interest.
Iraq
Harry Cohen: To ask the Prime Minister what procedures exist for investigations to be carried out into cause of deaths in custody in British detention centres in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [121603]
The Prime Minister: Any deaths that occur while an individual is in the custody of British forces are investigated by the Special Investigation Branch (SIB) of the Royal Military Police (RMP). Mandatory force regulations require that the RMP be informed of any death immediately. The SIB then carry out an investigation into the cause of death. There are set procedures that exist for investigations of this nature and they involve the examination of witnesses, an investigation of the scene of the crime and the arrest, detention and questioning of suspects as appropriate.
London Mayor
Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Prime Minister how many times he has met the Mayor of London in official meetings in each of the past three years. [122139]
The Prime Minister: I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals, including the Mayor of London. As with previous Administrations, it is not my practice to provide details of all such meetings, under Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Political Honours
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister (1) how many times the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee has (a) rejected and (b) referred back for re-consideration a recommendation for (i) a peerage and (ii) other honours; [122110]
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- (2) if he will request the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee to publish the results of its deliberations where it has entered a reservation about a proposed honour. [122113]
The Prime Minister: Information, opinions and assessments given in relation to recommendations for honours are not disclosed under Exemption 8 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Sellafield Nuclear Plant
Lady Hermon: To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations he has received from the Government of the Republic of Ireland regarding the Sellafield nuclear plant; and if he will make a statement. [121910]
The Prime Minister: I have recently received representations from the Taoiseach about the Sellafield nuclear plant. The issue has also been discussed in the course of routine contacts between us and there is wide ranging co-operation between the two Governments at various levels over issues relating to Sellafield.
Staff Costs
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Prime Minister how many staff his office had in each year since 1997; and what they cost in each year. [122298]
The Prime Minister: For staffing figures for the period up to 1 April 2002 I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 25 March 2002, Official Report, columns 125–27W.
For staffing costs for the period 2000–01 I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 11 July 2002, Official Report, column 1099W.
As at 1 April 2003 the number of staff on the No. 10 payroll was 194. Total staff costs for 2001–02 were £8 million. Final figures of total staff costs for 2002–03 are not yet available.
Tibet
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to raise the issue of Tibet when he visits China next month. [122630]
The Prime Minister: The Government remain of the view that a long-term political solution in Tibet can only be found through dialogue between the Chinese authorities and the Tibetan people, including the Dalai Lama. We have welcomed the visits to China by senior representatives of the Dalai Lama and have urged China to continue to develop such a dialogue.
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his statement of 23 June 2003 on the Thessaloniki European Council, Official Report, column 707, what additional resources are being committed by (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the other EU member states to implement Annex II of the declaration on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. [122273]
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The Prime Minister: The Declaration sets out formally our aims and targets for countering the proliferation threat. The UK and the EU are already fully engaged in work in this area, and have already committed considerable resources to this work.
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No assessment has yet been made of what, if any, additional resources may be required to implement fully the steps set out in the Declaration.
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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Afghanistan
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what special provision has been made by (a) the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and (b) the Afghan Transitional Authority to register women voters. [122213]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) has been working closely with the Transitional Administration to develop a comprehensive programme of voter registration, on a country-wide and on a non-partisan basis, in anticipation of elections in 2004. UNAMA hopes to begin registration in August 2003, with a particular focus initially on rural areas where winter access would be more difficult. UNAMA is sensitive to the particular needs of women, and will ensure that registration takes place in private single sex facilities, with women registrars employed to ensure that as many women as possible are registered to vote.
An important precursor to registration is the civic education process now being undertaken. One of the main objectives of this will be to educate heads of households and community leaders on the importance of females registering and voting, as well as reminding women themselves of their rights to vote.
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the gender breakdown of (a) civilian and (b) military staff is in the UK-led provincial reconstruction team in Mazar-e-Sharif. [122212]
Mr. Ingram: The percentages of women and men for the personnel allocated to posts against the current planned establishment for the UK-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) due to deploy to Mazar-e-Sharif is as follows:
| Civilians | Military | |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 50 | 9 |
| Men | 50 | 91 |
Burma
Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of recent British policy on Burma, with particular regard to improving the Burmese human rights record. [121354]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The UK annually co-sponsors resolutions on the human rights situation in Burma at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly and the UN Commission on Human Rights. The UK also supported the EU Common Position on Burma which is designed to encourage national reconciliation, respect for human rights and democracy in Burma. Last year there were some very modest improvements in limited
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areas of human rights in Burma. There has also been an increase in co-operation between the Burmese regime and the International Labour Organisation, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, though this has yet to be translated into substantive improvements in human rights.
As highlighted by the terrible events of 30 May, the overall human rights situation in Burma remains extremely poor and a matter of grave concern. The UK will continue to maintain pressure on the regime to improve the human rights situation in Burma.
Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had on strengthening the EU sanctions against Burma; and what his policy is on the UK introducing unilateral sanctions. [121758]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: On 16 June, EU Foreign Ministers agreed to strengthen further the EU Common Position on Burma. FCO Ministers and officials remain in regular contact with EU partners to ensure that pressure on the Burmese regime to move irreversibly towards democracy and respect for human rights is maintained and increased.
Due to existing UK and EU policy, our economic, trading and diplomatic links with the Burmese regime are very limited. Further multilateral action against the Burmese regime would therefore be far more effective than unilateral action. We are currently pursuing with EU colleagues what additional action we might take.
Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise the issue of assaults on democracy and human rights in Burma at the UN Security Council. [121759]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: We are in discussions with partners in the Security Council to determine whether the Security Council can consider the issue of Burma. HMG is encouraging all the appropriate bodies of the UN to tackle the issue of helping bring about national reconciliation, respect for human rights and democracy in Burma.
Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on how many people have been killed in the recent action by the Burmese junta on members and supporters of the National League for Democracy; and how many people are in prison. [121760]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: It is not known exactly how many people were killed or imprisoned in the recent crackdown by the Burmese regime. Credible reports indicate that more than four people, as reported by the Burmese authorities, were killed and that approximately 100 others have been detained.
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Burmese Government regarding the detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; and if he will make a statement. [121916]
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Mr. Mike O'Brien: The UK has made numerous representations to the Burmese authorities concerning the arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. I have spoken to the Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister and the Burmese Ambassador to register the UK's grave concern over the unacceptable violence and repression that has been inspired, organised and carried out by the Burmese regime. This has been supplemented by representations by the British Embassy in Rangoon, FCO Officials, as well as by statements on behalf of the European Union, including the European Council statement on Burma of 16 June 2003 that announced the introduction of further European Union sanctions against the Burmese regime.
Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the treatment by the Burmese authorities of members of (a) the Shan and (b) other minority groups, with particular reference to women. [122130]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: United Nations resolutions over many years have consistently assessed Burma's human rights record as being very poor. Human rights violations are widespread and systemic and the ethnic minorities, including the Shan, suffer disproportionately. Women are particularly vulnerable and there are many credible reports documenting the use of rape by members of the Burmese armed forces against women in Shan State.
Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will introduce sanctions unilaterally against Burma if agreement cannot be reached at European Union Level. [122185]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Due to existing UK and EU policy, our economic, trading and diplomatic links with the Burmese regime are very limited. Multilateral action against the Burmese regime is therefore far more effective than unilateral action. We are currently pursuing with EU colleagues what additional action we might take.
Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if European Union representations to the United Nations Security Council regarding the political situation in Burma will include concerns about the plight of the (a) Karen, (b) Karenni and (c) Shan minorities. [122186]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The United Nations Security Council has not formally considered the issue of Burma. However, we are in discussions with Security Council Partners to help bring this about. Should Burma feature on the Security Council agenda, HMG would ensure that the plight of Burma's ethnic minority groups was taken fully into account.
Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the levels of opium production in Burma; and what reports he has received of (a) state and (b) military complicity in such production. [122175]
Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of links between the Burmese Government and the (a) production of and (b) trade in opium. [122187]
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Mr. Mike O'Brien: Burma is the world's second largest producer of opium. There are credible reports that some production and trafficking of opium from Burma is carried out with the knowledge of members of the Burmese armed forces. But it is not clear how much the senior levels of the Burmese authorities know about this. However they are certainly culpable for not doing more to effectively address the problem.
Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will support the imposition of additional targeted EU (a) economic and (b) diplomatic sanctions against the Burmese government. [122188]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: We have long been at the forefront of EU action to maintain and increase targeted pressure on the Burmese regime. The EU Common Position was further strengthened on 16 June 2003 and we are currently pursuing with EU colleagues what additional economic and diplomatic action is required to ensure that national reconciliation, respect for human rights and democracy is soon possible in Burma.
Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with other EU foreign ministers about the political situation in Burma. [122189]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: On 16 June, EU Foreign Ministers agreed to strengthen further the EU Common Position on Burma. FCO Ministers and officials remain in regular contact with EU and other partners around the world to ensure that pressure on the Burmese regime to move irreversibly towards democracy and respect for human rights is maintained and increased.
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