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8 Mar 2004 : Column 1317W—continued
Colombia
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Colombia concerning arrests and detention of trade union leaders and human rights activists in Colombia; and if he will make a statement. [159240]
Mr. Rammell: Our embassy in Bogota make regular representations to the Colombian authorities on issues relating to human rights concerns. Our ambassador called on the Vice President of Colombia on 4 March and raised a number of concerns on human rights, trades unionist issues and tackling collusion with paramilitarism in Colombia. We are also seeking information from the Colombian Government on the case of Luz Perly Cordoba of the Colombian agricultural workers' union Fensuagro, who has recently been reportedly detained. I continue to raise relevant concerns in my own contacts with Colombian Ministers.
Correspondence
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter to him dated 26 January from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Mosammat Meherun Nessa Begum. [157907]
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Mr. Mullin: On 1 March my right hon. Friend's letter of 26 January was transferred to the Home Office for reply as the content concerned a Home Office matter.
Cyprus
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government will offer (a) Greek Cypriot and (b) Turkish Cypriot controlled areas of Cyprus for the monitoring of a referendum on a settlement. [159136]
Mr. MacShane: The British High Commission in Nicosia is working closely with the UN to ensure that work on the UN Secretary General's proposals is completed on time for the referendums in April. We are discussing with the UN what assistance the UK can best offer to ensure the smooth conduct of those referendums.
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) legal and (b) constitutional changes will be made to the guarantor powers and obligations for the UK in relation to Cyprus following its accession to the EU. [159137]
Mr. MacShane: The Treaty of Guarantee will remain in force following Cyprus's accession whether or not there is a settlement. Until there is a settlement the UK's responsibilities as a Guarantor Power will remain unchanged. In the event of a settlement on the basis of the Annan Plan the Treaty of Guarantee will be amended to cover not only the new United Cyprus Republic but also the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot constituent states.
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what trading and movement of goods rules will apply to arrangements between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot controlled areas of Cyprus after accession to the EU (a) in the event of a solution to the situation in Cyprus and (b) if a solution is not achieved. [159138]
Mr. MacShane: The European Commission is currently considering the necessary arrangements for each scenario, but is unlikely to finalise these arrangements until the outcome of the present negotiations is clear. We remain in close contact with the Commission on these and other issues related to a Cyprus settlement.
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Secretary-General of the UN that his role in deciding deadlock points in the Cyprus Settlement Plan must be strictly restricted to the basis of the plan and not involve issues that are outside the plan. [159139]
Mr. MacShane: In his statement in New York on 13 February the UN Secretary-General said
- "As a final resort, in the event of a continuing and persistent deadlock, the parties have invited the Secretary-General to use his discretion to finalise the text to be submitted to referenda on the basis of his plan. I therefore see no scope for covering issues outwith the basis of the plan".
The UK believes that the Annan Plan offers the only realistic basis for a solution to the Cyprus problem.
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Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of talks taking place to reunify Cyprus. [159230]
Mr. MacShane: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Mr. Hawkins) on 27 February 2004, Official Report, column 580W, and also to the reply my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Flook) in the House on 2 March 2004, Official Report, column 748. We will keep the House informed as matters progress.
Departmental Costs
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest estimate is of the cost to his Department of (a) the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, (b) the British Council and (c) British Trade International for each year from 1996–97 to 2005–06 (planned); and if he will make a statement. [156610]
Mr. Rammell: The cost to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is shown in the following table:
| (a) Westminster Foundation for Democracy(24) | (b) British Council(25) | (c) UK Trade and Investment(26) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outturn | |||
| 1996–97 | 2.5 | 102.4 | — |
| 1997–98 | 2.7 | 96.2 | — |
| 1998–99 | 3.0 | 97.1 | — |
| 1999–2000 | 4.0 | 133.3 | — |
| 2000–01 | 4.2 | 137.7 | 155.8 |
| 2001–02 | 4.3 | 145.0 | 136.3 |
| 2002–03 | 4.2 | 151.5 | 141.2 |
| Budget | |||
| 2003–04 | 4.1 | 165.5 | 141.2 |
| Plan | |||
| 2004–05 | 4.1 | 169.6 | 142.2 |
| 2005–06 | n/a | 179.6 | 144.2 |
(24) A full review of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) will take place in summer 2004. This will determine the level of grant-in-aid WFD will receive in 2005–06 and beyond.
(25) From 1999–2000 the FCO assumed responsibility for DFID's share of grant-in-aid to the British Council. A machinery of government transfer from DFID to the FCO covered this increase in expenditure.
(26) British Trade International (BTI) (now UK Trade and Investment) was established in May 1999. 2000–01 is the first full year for which we have a separate figure for BTI.
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.
EU (Internal Migration)
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with EC accession states on internal migration within the EU. [158978]
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Mr. MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has informed his colleagues in the 10 accession countries of the UK's policy on the free movement of workers in the EU after 1 May 2004, as set out by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in his statement to the House on 23 February 2004, Official Report, columns 23–25.
Haiti
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government took to support efforts for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Haiti. [159175]
Mr. Rammell: The UK, working alongside its EU partners, has been supporting the efforts of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the United Nations to find a peaceful solution to the crisis in Haiti. The EU was present at CARICOM discussions with President Aristide in Kingston on 31 January, and on 21 February the EU took part in an international Mission, involving the US, Canada, France, OAS and CARICOM, which met Aristide and members of the opposition in Haiti.
The UK supported UN Security Council Resolution 1529 which authorises the deployment of a Multi-National Interim Force. This force has restored some order to the Haitian capital and the resolution also declares the Security Council's readiness, within three months, to establish and deploy a UN stabilisation force, which will support the continuation of a peaceful and constitutional political process.
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government have taken through their diplomatic mission in the Dominican Republic to influence the situation in Haiti. [159176]
Mr. Rammell: The British Embassy in the Dominican Republic has just two UK-based staff, the ambassador and the consul. The ambassador has made regular trips to Haiti over the past 18 months, most recently visiting Port-au-Prince in January. Throughout this period he has kept in close touch with key players in Haiti, including the Organisation of American States, US, EU and French ambassadors and the Prime, Finance and Foreign Ministers. The embassy has excellent working relations with UK and other NGOs based in Haiti, and is working closely with Christian Aid in implementing a Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights Project Fund-supported project to reduce human rights abuses on the Haiti/Dominican Republic border.
During the current crisis, the embassy managed to secure agreements to evacuate UK nationals on US, French and Canadian aeroplanes, and several UK nationals left the country under such arrangements.
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on an international intervention in Haiti. [159177]
Mr. Rammell: The UK voted for UN Security Council Resolution 1529 which authorised the deployment of a Multi-National Interim Force to Haiti. This resolution, which was unanimously adopted, also declares the Security Council's readiness, within three
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months, to establish and deploy a UN stabilisation force that will support the continuation of a peaceful and constitutional political process.
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the UK's position is in the UN Security Council discussions on Haiti. [159178]
Mr. Rammell: The US and France, as members of the Friends of Haiti Group, lead discussions on Haiti in the Security Council. The Friends of Haiti tabled Security Council Resolution 1529 on 29 February, which the UK supported, and was unanimously adopted. This resolution authorises the immediate deployment of a Multi-National Interim Force, 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.
The UK will continue to take an active part in Security Council discussions on Haiti over the coming months as details of the Stabilisation Force are agreed and remains fully supportive of the efforts of those more closely involved in achieving a political solution to the crisis in Haiti.
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