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27 Oct 2003 : Column 57W—continued
Hong Kong
Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of infringements of human rights in Hong Kong. [134204]
Mr. Rammell: The 1984 Sino/British Joint Declaration on the question of Hong Kong provides for the continuation in Hong Kong, after the handover, of the rights and freedoms previously enjoyed.
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My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary continues to report to Parliament on the implementation of the Joint Declaration on Hong Kong. These reports always contain a section covering basic rights and freedoms. The Foreign Secretary's last report (Cmnd 5864), which covered the first six months of this year, assessed that, in general, the basic rights and freedoms promised to the people of Hong Kong in the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law, were upheld during that period.
Iran
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on discussions with the Government of Iran about nuclear weapons proliferation. [131992]
Mr. MacShane [holding answer 14 October 2003]: We have a regular dialogue with the Government of Iran on a range of issues of mutual concern. This includes discussion of Iran's nuclear programme.
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, together with his colleagues from France and Germany visited Tehran last week for intensive discussion with the Iranian Government on the issue of Iran's nuclear programmes and the need for Iran to co-operate fully and actively with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The Foreign Secretary issued a written ministerial statement on 23 October about his visit.
Iraq
Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will urge the UN Security Council to take steps to deploy human rights monitors throughout Iraq in line with General Assembly resolution 57/232 of December 2002. [133001]
Mr. Rammell: The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) appealed in May for an initial US$1.5 million for the provision of Human Rights Officers in Iraq. The UK agreed to allocate £400,000 (US$650,000) towards the OHCHR's request, to fund 60 per cent. of the immediate start-up costs of deploying Human Rights Officers and supporting their work. Following the terrorist attack on the United Nations Headquarters in Baghdad on 19 August 2003, the UN's efforts in Iraq have inevitably been scaled back, and the five human rights monitors were withdrawn with other international staff. The majority are now deployed in the region or in Geneva and New York and working on Iraq-related human rights issues. We are in discussion with the UN on the security measures needed to ensure that the UN is able to strengthen its vital role in Iraq.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's support for the draft UN resolution on the political and economic reconstruction of Iraq. [134268]
Mr. Rammell: Security Council Resolution 1511, co-sponsored by the UK and unanimously adopted on 16 October, provides a further step forward in the
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international community's contribution to the political and economic reconstruction of Iraq. The Resolution has three main objectives:
- to confirm and accelerate the transfer of power to the people of Iraq;
to send a clear signal that the international community is committed to the rapid political and economic reconstruction of a free Iraq which is secure and stable;
to ensure, as conditions permit, a strengthened vital role for the United Nations, in partnership with the Coalition and with the Iraqi people.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that the draft resolution on the reconstruction of Iraq will be implemented by the United Nations Security Council. [134291]
Mr. Rammell: Security Council Resolution 1511, adopted on 16 October, sets out a number of areas requiring implementation by the Iraqi authorities, the Coalition Provisional Authority, the United Nations or the rest of the international community. The Security Council will regularly review implementation of the Resolution and the UK will work to ensure implementation by all those involved.
Japan
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Japanese authorities concerning the imprisonment of Mr. Nicholas Baker; and if he will make a statement. [133626]
Mr. Mullin: We have raised Mr. Baker's case with the Japanese authorities at both official and ministerial level on a number of occasions. We continue to monitor the case and offer Mr. Baker consular assistance.
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of (a) the conditions in which Mr. Nicholas Baker is being held in Japan and (b) his level of access to legal representation prior to his trial. [133627]
Mr. Mullin: Mr. Baker is being detained under the same conditions as others in detention in Japan. We continue our dialogue with the Japanese authorities about prison conditions in general. Officials from the British embassy visited Mr. Baker soon after notification of his arrest, gave him a list of lawyers and helped to arrange the appointment of Mr. Baker's chosen lawyer. We continue to monitor the case and offer Mr. Baker consular assistance.
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Ministerial Visits
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) which of the UK overseas territories he plans to visit in the next 12 months; [133205]
- (2) what official visits he plans to make during the next 12 months. [133207]
Mr. Straw: It is not my practice to announce visits until they are firm. Because of the unpredictable nature of world events, final decisions on my overseas visits are often not possible until very shortly before the day of travel.
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to discuss Gibraltar's sovereignty with the Government of Spain. [133206]
Mr. MacShane: There are currently no plans to do so.
Mr. Kenny Richey
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the United States Administration about the imprisonment on death row in Ohio of Mr. Kenny Richey; and if he will make a statement. [134819]
Mr. Mullin: Kenny Richey became a dual UK/US national with effect from 30 April 2003. Under international law we have no right to make formal demands on behalf of a dual national in the country of their other nationality. However, in cases of the death penalty, as a matter of principle, we will make representations in all cases at the appropriate time.
We are in touch with Mr. Richey's lawyers both in the USA and the UK, as well as Ohio state officials. Our Acting Consul General in Chicago attended Mr. Richey's Court of Appeals hearing earlier this year. We will continue to monitor his case closely to determine what representations could be made on his behalf, and we will do all we properly can to try to prevent his execution.
Pakistan
Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether the Government of Pakistan is a sponsor of terrorism; and if he will make a statement. [133066]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: President Musharraf has said that he will not allow Pakistan's territory to be used by terrorists. We welcome the steps which the Government of Pakistan has taken so far in fulfilment of that commitment, including its co-operation in the campaign against Al Qaida and the measures it has taken to clamp down on extremist groups in Pakistan, including the banning of five such groups. We remain concerned about militant violence in Kashmir and look to Pakistan to discourage such acts and fulfil its commitment to stop infiltration across the Line of Control. We also remain concerned that Taliban and other extremist elements are still crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan and we continue to encourage the Government of Pakistan to do all it can to prevent this.
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Student Visas
Mr. Jon Owen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many student visas were granted in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [132920]
Mr. Mullin: The information is as follows:
| Student visas granted | |
|---|---|
| Year | |
| 1998 | 69,607 |
| 1999 | 75,607 |
| 2000 | 99,559 |
| Financial Year | |
| 2001–02 | 121,466 |
| 2002–03 | 132,890 |
The table shows the number of student visas issued at entry clearance posts worldwide each year since 1998. Since 2001, statistics have been collated by Financial Year (1 April to 31 March) rather than calendar year.
Mr. Jon Owen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the 20 (a) further education institutions and (b) higher education institutions with the highest number of student visas granted for studying at that institution. [132921]
Mr. Mullin: We do not keep centralised records of further education and higher education institutions at which applicants for student visas wish to study. To obtain such figures would incur disproportionate costs.
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