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Fund Expenditure
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest estimate is of expenditure on the (a) Drugs Assistance Fund, (b) Human Rights Fund and (c) Environment Fund
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for each year from 1996–97 to 2005–06; and if he will make a statement. [156606]
Mr. Rammell: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) expenditure on these programmes is shown in the following table:
| 1996–97 | 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–2000(9) | 2000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | 2003–04(10) | 2004–05(11) | 2005–06(11) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (a) Drugs Assistance Fund(12) | 0.9 | 4.4 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 7.3 | 10.0 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.4 |
| (b) Human Rights Fund(13) | — | — | 5.0 | 5.1 | 6.0 | 6.6 | 7.4 | 11.1 | 10.5 | 14.5 |
| (c) Environment Fund(14) | — | — | 0.6 | 0.9 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 6.3 |
(9) Outturn
(10) Budget
(11) Plan
(12) FCO programme activity in support of drugs objectives includes the former Drugs Assistance and Drugs Programme Fund, now (since 2001–02) the Drugs and Crime Fund.
(13) The Human Rights Project Fund was started in 1998–99 but was subsumed into the new Global Opportunities Fund (GOF) in 2003–04. Figures from that year onwards include Human Rights Programme activity under several strands of the GOF e.g. Engaging with the Islamic World, Re-Uniting Europe and Strengthening Relationships with Emerging Markets, but not human rights activity across all FCO programme budgets.
(14) The Environment Project Fund (EPF) was started in 1998–99 but was subsumed into the new GOF in 2003–04. The figures from that year onwards include estimated expenditure on the environment across all FCO programmes, not just the former EPF.
Note:
The figures for 2004–05 and 2005–06 indicate current spending plans. All future resource allocations may be subject to review in the light of changing foreign policy priorities. 2005–06 spending plans will be covered by the 2004 Spending Review.
Haiti
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in Haiti. [157648]
Mr. Rammell: The UK welcomes the constitutional succession and political process now underway in Haiti in order to promote a peaceful and lasting solution to the current crisis.
The UK welcomes the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1529 which authorises the deployment of a multi-national Interim Force to Haiti and declares the Security Council's readiness, within three months, to establish and deploy a UN stabilisation force that will support the continuation of a peaceful and constitutional political process.
Hong Kong
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether China has informed him of plans to change the legal system in Hong Kong. [157820]
Mr. Rammell: We are not aware of any plans to change the legal system in Hong Kong. The Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984 provided for the maintenance of the existing legal system in Hong Kong after the handover in 1997. The Joint Declaration also provides that the legal system in Hong Kong should be autonomous from the legal system of mainland China and should be vested with independent judicial power. This should remain unchanged until at least 2047.
India and Pakistan
Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the state of the relationship between India and Pakistan. [157018]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: We warmly welcome the recent announcement by India and Pakistan that they have agreed an agenda and a timetable for substantive talks, due to begin after the Indian General Election. Following the breakthrough in relations announced by President Musharraf and Prime Minister Vajpayee at the start of January, this agreement demonstrates the commitment of both countries to address each other's concerns. We support both governments in their efforts, recognising that the talks will be the start of a long and difficult process and hope that they will, in due course, lead to the resolution of all their outstanding differences, including over Kashmir.
Interception of Communications
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is empowered to authorise the interception of communications where that communication begins and terminates outside UK territory. [157921]
Mr. Straw: I refer the hon. Member to Sections 5, 7 and 8 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
Iran
Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Iranian Government about pluralist democratic procedures in their recent national election. [157021]
Mr. Rammell: In his contacts with Iranian leaders, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has made clear our support for Iran's efforts to reform. The flawed parliamentary elections held on 20 February were a setback for Iran's democratic development. On 23 February, EU Foreign Ministers expressed their deep regret and disappointment that large numbers of candidates, including many sitting deputies, had been prevented from standing, thus making a genuine democratic choice by the Iranian people impossible. For
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elections in any country to be regarded as free and fair, electors must have a chance to vote for candidates with a range of views.
Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to prevent the flow of Shia Muslims from Iran into Southern Iraq. [157579]
Mr. Rammell: We are monitoring the border situation closely, and have been in contact with all Iraq's neighbours, including Iran, to urge them to take steps to ensure better border security. Within Iraq, Coalition forces have been conducting operations aimed at monitoring and reducing illegal cross-border traffic. In the long-term, we are working hard to train all Iraqi security forces, including those with responsibility for border security.
Israel
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the stance of the Government at the International Court of Justice with regard to the reference of the Israeli security fence. [156390]
Mr. Rammell: The Government believe that the building of a wall on Palestinian territory is unlawful but that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) should exercise its discretion not to give an opinion on this matter on the grounds:
- that an opinion is not needed by the UN and could hinder the peace process;
- that it involves essentially a bilateral dispute, one of the parties to which has not consented to the ICJ's jurisdiction;
- and that it would involve the determination of issues of fact, on which the necessary evidence is not before the Court.
A copy of the UK's written statement to the ICJ to this effect has been placed in the Library of the House.
Katharine Gun
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with the Attorney-General concerning the case of Katharine Gun before the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to offer any evidence against her. [157847]
Mr. Straw: Because I have statutory responsibility for GCHQ, I spoke with the Attorney General by telephone on 14 February and at a meeting on 24 February about the Gun case. The purpose on both occasions was to learn about the position of the prosecuting authorities relating to the continuation of the prosecution. I took no part in the decisions relating to discontinuation of the prosecution.
I was earlier consulted by the Attorney General, in accordance with the Shawcross procedure, about public interest issues relating to the case, before he took the decision to initiate the prosecution.
Kuwait
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is the policy of the Government to continue (a) the approval of new claims in Kuwait and (b) the payment and settlement of claims in Kuwait under the UN Compensation Commission. [157042]
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Mr. Rammell: The UK Government support the UN Compensation Commission's (UNCC) approval of Kuwait's submission of certain new claims relating to the 605 detainees held in Iraq following the 1990 invasion of Kuwait, and who are now believed to be dead.
The Government support the completion of the UNCC's claims processing work for all claimant states, including Kuwait, and for the payment of approved awards, to the extent that it has funds available to do so.
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