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Chagos Islands

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultation took place prior to the announcement of the two Orders in Council on 10 June 2004, announced in the written statement of 15 June 2004, Official Report, columns 32–4WS, with (a) Chagossians resident in the United Kingdom and (b) Chagossians resident in Mauritius; and what response he has had from Chagossians following the Orders in Council being made. [184387]

Mr. Rammell: Before the British Indian Ocean Territory (Constitution) Order 2004 and the British Indian Ocean Territory (Immigration) Order 2004 were submitted to Her Majesty the Queen in Council, I and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave very careful consideration to all relevant interests and concerns. There was no prior consultation with Chagossians resident in the United Kingdom or Mauritius.

A petition by a number of Chagossians in the United Kingdom, raising various points including their wish to resettle in the Chagos islands, was handed in to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 6 July 2004, and a petition by Chagossians resident in Mauritius was handed in to the British High Commission in Port Louis on 13 July 2004.

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what rights Ilois islanders have to visit Diego Garcia to care for the graves of their ancestors; and what financial support is provided to help their passage from Mauritius for such visits. [184382]

Mr. Rammell: Following the restoration of full immigration control over the whole of the British Indian Ocean Territory, the Chagossians would need a permit in order to visit any part of the Territory. We have made clear that we remain prepared, as we always have been, to assist and finance a visit by a party of Chagossians to the outer islands of the Territory to enable them to visit the graves there of their parents and grandparents. We have further made clear that if there is a request that the itinerary of any such visit should also include the graves on Diego Garcia, we are prepared to make representations to the US authorities about that.

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there is a prison or controlled area for holding detainees on Diego Garcia. [184390]

 
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Mr. Rammell: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to the right hon. and learned Member for North-East Fife (Sir Menzies Campbell) on 21 June 2004, Official Report, column 1221W.

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requirement has been placed upon the United States military as a result of the leasing agreement for Diego Garcia, to ensure the land and aquatic environment of Diego Garcia and other Chagos islands are not damaged by the military activities of the United States; what arrangements are in place to remove military and commercial wastes from the islands; and what consultation he has had with the United States Administration over the adequacy of emergency plans to clean up pollution. [184394]

Mr. Rammell: There is no leasing agreement in respect of Diego Garcia but, under the relevant treaties concluded with the US Government, the whole of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is set aside for the defence purposes of the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and the US Government is entitled to establish and maintain a defence facility on Diego Garcia. The BIOT Government and the US authorities collaborate on all aspects of the conservation and protection of the natural environment of Diego Garcia and, where appropriate, of the outer islands of the Territory. In this context, the US authorities on Diego Garcia have established a Natural Resources Management Plan and they expend considerable resources on environmental conservation. The UK Government attaches considerable importance to the conservation of the natural environment of the Chagos islands and the BIOT Government have ensured that the necessary legislation for this purpose is in place and is enforced, and that relevant international conventions are observed.

Chechnya

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the situation in Chechnya. [184243]

Mr. Rammell: We continue to be concerned by the situation in Chechnya. The assassination of Chechen President Kadyrov in May, and the 21 June raids into neighbouring Ingushetia underline the fragility of the situation in the Russian North Caucasus.

We recognise the genuine security problems Russia faces in Chechnya and the North Caucasus. We support Russia's territorial integrity. Separatist forces carry out many human rights abuses in Chechnya. We have been clear in our condemnation of the appalling terrorist attacks across Russia, which have killed many innocent victims.

However, these problems can only be resolved through a political rather than military solution. Continuing human rights abuses in Chechnya by federal and local forces can only undermine attempts to advance a genuine political process and reconciliation. Our policy is to regularly raise our concerns over Chechnya with the Russian authorities. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary did so recently with Foreign Minister Lavrov, during his visit to Moscow on
 
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6–7 July. I raised similar concerns during my visit to Russia on 6–7 April. In addition, we raise these concerns multilaterally through the EU, OSCE, Council of Europe and UN. We also give significant funding to international organisations and NGOs that provide humanitarian aid in the region.

The new Chechen presidential elections planned for August will be a fresh opportunity to build up the political process and aid efforts to bring stability to the Republic. We therefore hope the election will be genuinely open and inclusive, a hope we have expressed repeatedly to the Russians.

China

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken to improve the UK's relationship with China. [184240]

Mr. Rammell: We currently enjoy good relations with China.

A Task Force was set up in September 2003 under my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's leadership to make firm recommendations for action to increase practical co-operation. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister met Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in London in May. They issued a joint statement afterwards setting out plans for developing co-operation between the two countries on areas including trade, education, science and technology and the environment. The joint statement also included a commitment to annual summits between the two countries.

The strength of our relationship allows us to raise sensitive issues of concern, such as human rights, with the Chinese authorities.

I plan to visit Beijing later this month.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Chinese Government on the police treatment of Christians in custody. [184319]

Mr. Rammell: We are very concerned about religious freedom in China. We made clear at the last round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue in May that the prohibition of some religious/spiritual groups, and the legal restrictions placed upon members of others, are tantamount to a denial of their members' freedom of religious belief.

We also raised our concerns about torture by the Police and prison authorities at the same dialogue round.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister raised human rights issues with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during his visit to the UK in May and I raised human rights issues with the Vice-Minister of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party, Zhang Zhijun during his visit to the UK in March. We will continue to raise human rights issues with the Chinese Government at every appropriate opportunity.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government has made to the
 
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Chinese Government on (a) the detention of house church leader Xu Shaungfu and (b) the recent beating to death by Chinese police of two Christians, Gu Xianggao and Jiang Zongxiu; and if he will make a statement. [184320]

Mr. Rammell: We are aware of reports of the detention of Xu Shaungfu and the deaths in custody of Gu Xianggao and Jiang Zongxiu. We are monitoring the situation and note reports that the Chinese authorities are investigating the death of Jiang Zongxiu.

We are very concerned about religious freedom in China. We made clear at the last round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue in May that the prohibition of some religious/spiritual groups, and the legal restrictions placed upon members of others, are tantamount to a denial of their members' freedom of religious belief. We also raised our concerns about torture and the treatment of prisoners at the same dialogue round.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister raised human rights issues with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during his visit to the UK in May and I raised human rights issues with the Vice-Minister of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party, Zhang Zhijun during his visit to the UK in March.

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