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19 Nov 2003 : Column 1056W—continued
Science and Technology Network
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the (a) funding, (b) remit and (c) functions of the science and technology network. [137535]
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Mr. Rammell: Following a review in 2000 the FCO has established a new network of S & T (science and technology) attachés to help capitalise on and enhance the UK science base, to help companies access overseas innovation and technology, to facilitate high-tech trade and attract foreign investment and to use S & T as a vehicle to maximise the UK's impact abroad.
£3 million of funding was provided through SR2000. A further £750,000 of programme and staffing resource was made available through SR2002. By 2005 there will be a dedicated FCO S & T officer in 34 of our overseas posts in 22 countries. Several other posts have also joined the network and make use of S & T to further bilateral relations. The network reports to a wide customer base and works with a number of UK organisations with an interest in S & T overseas. These include Government Departments, parliamentary and devolved institutions, public sector bodies, universities, research and trade organisations and industry.
The FCO works in close partnership on international S & T issues, with the Office of Science and Technology (OST), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) (especially its team of International Technology Promoters), UK Trade & Investment, the British Council and the Research Councils (RCUK). The FCO's S & T network adds value to the UK by addressing the following objectives:
- To inform UK science policy development, benchmarking UK S & T performance against other nations and using S & T to secure UK influence in international negotiations.
To promote the UK as the international partner of choice in S & T collaboration, and attract overseas expertise, in areas which match or complement existing or potential UK strengths.
To enhance wealth creation by using S & T to facilitate trade and inward investment, with development of the UK knowledge economy through commercially edged high technology collaboration.
To use S & T for public diplomacy to project the UK as a creative, dynamic, technologically advanced nation.
The new network provides informed insight into S & T activity in the host country and an assessment of opportunities and risks for the UK. Through developing networks of opinion formers and key contacts the attachés are well placed to stimulate bilateral interactions. The integrated approach of the S & T attachés with their commercial and public diplomacy colleagues means projection of the UK as a world leading science base and development of a technologically innovative, knowledge based, economy.
Secondment
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people from science and technology backgrounds have been seconded into the Civil Service in his Department in each of the last five years for which data are available. [138623]
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Mr. Rammell: In line with the 2001 Government Cross Cutting Review of Science and Research and the 2000 Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) review of science and technology (S&T) work, the FCO has increased the use of S&T expertise in its work. The FCO has established a new S&T network and recruited a new and diverse generation of high calibre S&T officers, both UK appointed and locally engaged. As well as scientific and technical expertise, many have experience in business, management consultancy and policymaking, as well as skills in diplomacy and international relations. For UK appointees, in each of the last five years the following numbers of people with a science and technology background have been recruited into the S&T network either on Fixed Term contract, loan from Other Government Departments or on secondment from outside the Civil Service:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 2 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 3 |
Sri Lanka
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment his Department has made of the conflict between the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; when this assessment was made; and if he will make a statement. [131830]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: 1 refer the hon. Member to the answer 1 gave him on 15 October 2003, Official Report, column 266–67W.
Turkey
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of developments in the human rights situation in Turkey; what representations have been made to him; and if he will make a statement. [131444]
Mr. MacShane: We welcome Turkey's progress in the protection of human rights and the constitutional and legislative changes that it has made since October 2001. The recent 6th and 7th EU-related reform packages were particularly far reaching. Consistent and effective implementation of these is now crucial, so we are encouraged by the Turkish Government's increasing emphasis on the practical application of new laws, and its creation of a committee, under Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, to monitor progress.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office monitor the human rights situation in Turkey closely. We maintain a strong network of contacts in both our missions in Ankara and Istanbul, and in London. We regularly meet local and multinational NGOs, European and International bodies which monitor Turkey's human rights performance and members of the government. We also attend human rights trials wherever possible and liaise with EU partners to maintain an EU presence at key events throughout the country. We conduct an
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on-going bilateral dialogue with Turkey on human rights, the most recent round of which took place in Ankara on 23 October.
For a full assessment of the human rights situation in Turkey 1 refer the hon. Member to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Annual Human Rights Report 2003, which is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/global-issues/humanrights/reports.
United States
Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the New York Consul General relocated from the residence at 4 East 66th Street; what use has been made of the apartment since; when and at what price the apartment was first listed for sale; what the actual (a) out of pocket costs and (b) annual resource costs of owning the apartment have been since the Consul General left; whether the apartment is still for sale; and at what price it is listed. [138139]
Mr. Rammell [holding answer 11 November 2003]: The Consul General in New York relocated from the residence at 4 East 66th Street in August 2002. Since then the property has remained vacant. The property was first listed for sale in January 2002 at an initial asking price of US$22 million. It remains on the market, listed at US$14 million. We cannot divulge details of prices and costs as these are commercially sensitive.
Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the New York Consul General moved into the new residence; what the total capital cost of this residence, including all fixtures, fittings and furnishings, professional and other fees, moving and relocation costs was; and what the residence's (a) open market and (b) existing use (i) value and (ii) annual resource cost are. [138140]
Mr. Rammell [holding answer 11 November 2003]: The Consul General in New York moved into the new residence in August 2002. We cannot divulge further details of costs because these are commercially sensitive.
Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when and at what price the former residence of the San Francisco Consul General was sold; what net proceeds the Department expects will be from this sale after deduction of all costs of the transaction; when the San Francisco Consul General moved into the new residence; what the total capital cost of this residence including post-acquisition costs are expected to be; and what the residence's (a) open market and (b) existing use (i) value and (ii) annual resource cost are. [138141]
Mr. Rammell [holding answer 11 November 2003]: The sale of the Consul General's former residence in San Francisco was completed on 31 October 2003. The Consul General moved into the new residence in the middle of October 2003.
We cannot divulge further details of prices and costs because these are commercially sensitive.
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Website
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the content and design of his Department's website. [139367]
Mr Mullin : The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website (www.fco.gov.uk) is kept under constant review. The site was significantly re-designed and re-structured when it was re-launched in May 2002. A leading web design agency developed the new site, after consulting widely with FCO stakeholders. Usability testing on the new site was conducted in August 2002 by a specialist company using members of the public. The recommendations of their report were implemented and the findings informed a further re-design of the homepage which went live in January 2003. In July, a specialist IT consultancy, assessed the website as part of an overall review of FCO electronic information. Their recommendations are in the process of being implemented. Customer feedback is constantly monitored and assessed.
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