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Saudi Arabia

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the security (a) advice and (b) protection offered to employees of the British Council working in Saudi Arabia. [139753]

Mr. Rammell: The safety of staff and visitors is of paramount importance to the British Council. Their Security Committee in London meets regularly, and reviewed security arrangements for British Council operations in Saudi Arabia on 13 November.

The British Council's Security Adviser visited Saudi Arabia immediately following the 12 May terrorist attacks in Riyadh and reviewed security measures at British Council offices and staff accommodation throughout the country. His recommendations were fully implemented. A further security review is currently taking place.

The Director of the British Council in Riyadh is Cultural Attaché at the British embassy. The Embassy maintains close and regular contact with him and with his staff throughout the country, including through the Consulate General in Jedda and the British Trade Office in Al Khobar. In addition, the Embassy and its officers in Saudi Arabia raise security-related issues with the Saudi authorities on behalf of the British Council.

The Director of the British Council communicates to his staff the conclusions of security reviews and other advice related to security. All employees of the British Council in Saudi Arabia have access to the same advice as the FCO gives to all other British nationals, communicated through the FCO website and notes to or meetings with the community In our advice, we make clear that after the attack against the Muhayya residential compound in Riyadh on 9 November, we continue to believe terrorists are planning further attacks. We advise British nationals to take all necessary steps to protect their safety and make sure they have confidence in their individual security arrangements. We further advise British nationals to maintain a high level of vigilance, particularly in public places frequented by foreigners such as hotels, restaurants and shopping malls. They are advised to follow news reports and be alert to regional developments. We keep this advice under close review and up-date it regularly. The advice is available in full on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website.

Somalia

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the facilities in Nairobi for Somalians applying for entry clearance in to the UK; and what plans he has to change the facilities. [139720]

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Mr. Mullin: Our Visa Section at the High Commission in Nairobi is still unable to accept applications from Somali applicants without recognised identity documents. I recognise this problem and recently discussed it with staff at the High Commission during my visit to Nairobi in October.

As a response to a specific threat at our High Commission in December 2002 security restrictions were introduced affecting personal callers wishing to enter the High Commission compound. In line with these restrictions the Visa Section is still only able to accept applications for entry clearance from those who hold appropriate documentation confirming their nationality and identity. I recognise that these restrictions cause particular difficulties to Somali applicants, We are looking at ways to resolve this.

Sri Lanka

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what reports he has received from representatives of the UK Government in Sri Lanka concerning (a) President Chandrika Kumaratunga's declaration of a state of emergency on 5 November; and (b) Mrs. Kumaratunga's dismissal of the Sri Lankan Defence, Interior and Media Ministers; and if he will make a statement; [137707]

(2) when his Department will assess the impact of Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga's declaration of a state of emergency on 5 November on the Sri Lankan peace process; what discussions he has had with (a) President Chandrika Kumaratunga, (b) Colonel Sumedha Perera, (c) Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, (d) representatives and members of the Government of India and (e) representatives and members of the Government of Japan; and if he will make a statement. [137708]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: In my press statement on 6 November I said that we were following developments in Sri Lanka with increasing anxiety. A copy of the press release is available on the FCO website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/news-press-releases. We have noted subsequent developments but remain particularly concerned for a speedy resumption of dialogue in a complex peace process. The UK strongly supports the peace process and hopes that the Sri Lankan President and Government will be able to resolve the current political uncertainties in a spirit of common commitment to the peace process.

Representatives of the British High Commission in Colombo meet regularly with Government and donor representatives. In the week beginning 3 November, the High Commissioner has met the President and a senior Government Minister and spoke to the Prime Minister; High Commission officials have met with representatives of the Indian and Japanese Governments and have spoken with representatives of the military.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Sri Lanka. [138826]

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Mr. Mike O'Brien: We welcome the reportedly cordial meeting between the President and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on 12 November, and their decision to continue dialogue with all parties concerned and to meet again next week. It is most important that they quickly agree on how the peace process will again be taken forward. We also welcome the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's continuing commitment to the peace process and ceasefire agreement. The continuing political uncertainties must not be allowed to jeopardise that process.

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the declaration of a state of emergency in Sri Lanka and its effects on the civil rights of Sri Lankan citizens. [139050]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The state of emergency in Sri Lanka, declared on 5 November, was lifted on 7 November, before the official gazette notification had been issued, and before any action had been taken by the President under emergency powers. The civil rights of Sri Lankan citizens were not adversely affected by the state of emergency.

Thailand

Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Thai authorities about Dr. Cynthia Maung's clinic in Mae Sot on the Thai-Burmese border. [140350]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: I will write to my hon. Friend shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions he has held with the Thai authorities on delivery by non-governmental organisations of cross-border aid relief to internally displaced people in Burma; [140353]

(2) what recent representations he has made to the Thai authorities about access for Burmese refugees to refugee camps in Thailand. [140354]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: I will write to my hon. Friend shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

Tibet

Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to secure the release of the Tibetan religious leader, Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche, from prison in China. [140352]

Mr. Rammell: We have raised the case of Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche with the Chinese authorities on a number of occasions. At the latest round of the biannual UK-China Human Rights Dialogue held in Beijing on 10–11 November the Chinese again confirmed that he had appealed against his original sentence (death sentence with two year suspension) but that the original verdict had been upheld. We also raised our concerns about his welfare and medical treatment.

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Treaty Ratification

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests the Government will make to the Crown prior to the introduction of a Bill relating to the ratification of a treaty consequent upon a final draft text of a constitution for the European Union; what requests were made to the Crown in respect of previous Bills necessary for ratification of treaties; and what replies were received. [140433]

Mr. MacShane: I will write to my hon. Friend shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

UN Arms Embargoes

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 16 September 2003, Official Report, column 681W, if he will (a) commission a report on the impact of traditional tribal demarcations on the effectiveness of UN arms embargoes; and if he will (b) discuss the matter with NGOs. [138610]

Mr. Rammell: The Government have no plans to commission a report on the impact of traditional tribal demarcations on the effectiveness of UN arms embargoes; and have no plans to discuss the matter with NGOs.

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