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7 Jul 2003 : Column 576W—continued
Cyprus
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on British (a) forces and (b) employees from the Sovereign Base Areas visiting the occupied areas of Cyprus. [R] [123411]
Mr. Ingram: I have been asked to reply.
British Forces Cyprus Service Personnel, United Kingdom Based Civilians, authorised UK Officials and their dependants and specified close relatives are permitted to visit northern Cyprus. The procedure for application for a pass to visit northern Cyprus is under review because of recent events arising from the relaxation of the regulations by the Republic of Cyprus and the northern Cyprus authorities concerning cross border travel.
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to promote contact and co-operation between (a) employers, (b) trade and employers' organisations and (c) trades unions in the government-controlled and occupied areas of Cyprus. [R] [123421]
Mr. MacShane: Our High Commission in Nicosia encourages contact and cooperation, and free discussion of issues relating to the Cyprus Problem, within and between civil organisations on both sides of the Green Line in Cyprus.
Iraq
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any Government has failed in its obligations to provide information it holds to the International Atomic Energy Agency about Saddam Hussein's regime's attempts to obtain uranium for Africa in the last five years. [123451]
Mr. MacShane [holding answer 3 July 2003]: We encouraged all states to share any information that they had with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
There is no requirement for the IAEA to inform us of who has, and who has not, provided information to them.
Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many mass grave sites have been discovered in Iraq since the start of the recent conflict; and what steps are being taken by the occupying powers to (a) protect and secure the sites, (b) identify the victims and (c) bring criminal charges against the perpetrators. [123689]
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Mr. Rammell: To date 86 mass graves have been reported. Approximately 50 have been, or are currently, under investigation by coalition forces, who have been tasked with securing and protecting evidence of legacy crimes.
We have sent a team of nine UK forensic experts to Iraq to investigate legacy crimes and mass graves. We are currently studying their recommendations for a long-term strategy for dealing with forensically important sites in Iraq and for further UK assistance in this area.
We have always believed that those who have been responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes should be brought to justice. We believe it should be for the Iraqi people to decide how to bring those responsible to justice, with suitable international help.
North Korea
Mrs. Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what agreement was reached in the recent discussions in Madrid between the UK and 10 other countries regarding the possible interdiction of ships and planes from North Korea and other countries; whether the agreement has been published; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [123677]
Mr. Rammell: The discussion, which took place on 12 June 2003, was an initial meeting of allies to establish the group and to share ideas for taking forward measures for interdiction. No formal agreements were concluded, except that the group would continue to meet regularly.
Mrs. Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the policy of constructive engagement with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea that led to the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Republic of Korea. [123836]
Mr. Rammell: The UK established diplomatic relations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in December 2000 and opened an Embassy in Pyongyang in July 2001. Our contacts with the DPRK government in the period leading up to these decisions convinced us that it made sense to encourage the DPRK's integration into the international community, rather than see it remain isolated. Our diplomatic relationship has allowed us to keep open channels of communication which enable us to address the DPRK authorities frequently and directly on issues of international concern, pre-eminently non-proliferation and human rights. But we have told North Korea that there can be no normal relationship until the nuclear issue has been resolved.
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Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Ministers from (a) North Korea and (b) China with respect to human rights in North Korea; and if he will make a statement. [123976]
Mr. Rammell: Our establishment of diplomatic relations and an embassy in North Korea enable us to use official channels to raise human rights issues, including religious persecution, at regular intervals. Most recently, I discussed the human rights situation in North Korea with DPRK Vice Foreign Minister Choe Su Hon during his visit to London in May. The UK also supported a resolution at this year's UN Commission on Human Rights. The resolution, which was adopted by a wide margin on 16 April, urges North Korea to co-operate with the UN human rights mechanisms.
We regularly raise the issue of North Korean refugees with the Chinese, including at the biannual UK/China Human Rights Dialogue. At the last round of the Dialogue, on 21 November 2002, we urged China to allow the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) access to the border areas and to observe its obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention. We will continue to encourage greater co-operation between China and UNHCR on this issue.
Israel
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with colleagues in the European Union concerning the imposition of sanctions on Israel if Phase I of the road map for Peace is not adhered to. [121668]
Mr. Rammell: There is no formal proposal for the EU to consider sanctions. The idea of sanctions has been discussed before but there has not been a consensus in favour. Israel and the Palestinian Authority should build on the recent ceasefire and withdrawal from Gaza and Bethlehem and meet their obligations under Phase I of the roadmap. We are devoting our efforts to encouraging them to do so.
Staff Costs
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible had in each year since 1997; and what the cost of those staff was in each of those years. [122252]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The number of staff and the cost of those staff for which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and each agency and non-departmental body it is responsible for in each year since 1997 are as follows:
7 Jul 2003 : Column 579W
Zimbabwe
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 25 June 2003, Official Report, column 815W, on Zimbabwe, if the British Government will assume responsibility for paying the pensions while the situation exists; what help is available to those pensioners in the UK who are not in receipt of their pensions; and if he will make a statement. [123096]
Mr. Mullin: Responsibility for the payment of Zimbabwe Government pensions rests firmly with the Government of Zimbabwe. That has always been the case. We will continue to remind the Zimbabwe Government of its obligations to make these pension payments in full and on time. Zimbabwe pensioners in the UK whose incomes have fallen below a certain level and have few savings may qualify for income related entitlements, such as the minimum income guarantee. They should contact the minimum income guarantee scheme hotline on 0800 028 1111.
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