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21 Jul 2004 : Column 340W—continued
India
Andrew Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has made to (a) the Indian
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Government and (b) the Chief Minister of Orissa concerning the arrest of Pastor Suresh Samal and five other Christians from the village of Kilipal; [184988]
(2) what representations he has made to (a) the Indian Government and (b) the Chief Minister of Gujarat concerning (i) the kidnap and suspected rape of a Christian woman, Manulaben Dinana, by a gang connected with Hindu militant groups and (ii) the recent destruction of a Christian graveyard by officials in Ahmedabad; [184990]
(3) what representations he has made to (a) the Indian Government and (b) the Chief Minister of Tripura concerning the attack on Pastor Letthang Gangte, of the Evangelical Congregational Church of India and his family on 19 April in the village of Rajghat, West Tripura. [184991]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: We have not raised these specific incidents with the Government of India. We do however monitor reports of attacks against minorities and raise these issues with the Government of India. We continue to urge the Indian authorities to ensure the right to freedom of religion is upheld, and to raise our concerns about incidents of religious intolerance in India, including attacks against Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians; and to urge that those responsible should be brought to justice. In this context, we welcome the commitment by Dr. Manmohan Singh to maintaining communal harmony at all costs in India.
Iran
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with Iran in recent months as regards its nuclear programme. [184238]
Mr. MacShane: The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) unanimously adopted a Resolution on 18 June calling for Iran to co-operate more actively with IAEA inspectors and to resolve outstanding questions regarding its nuclear programme.
Together with our French and German partners, the Government is urgently engaged in seeking to persuade Iran to re-engage fully with the IAEA, and to honour its commitments made in the Tehran Declaration of 21 October 2003.
We will continue to monitor developments closely.
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what issues were raised at the recent EU/Iran Human Rights Dialogue meeting; and what assessment has been made of the progress being made by Iran on these issues. [185437]
Mr. Rammell:
Discussions at the fourth meeting of the EU/Iran Human Rights Dialogue, held in Tehran on 14–16 June, covered a range of human rights issues in Iran. The EU delegation raised particular concerns about Iran's judicial and penal systems, the situation of religious and ethnic minorities, freedom of expression and assembly, discrimination against women and the conduct of this year's Majlis elections. The EU also raised the cases of a number of individuals in Iran. We are deeply disappointed that on many issues of concern there has been little or no progress in recent months.
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Mr. Sandy Mitchell
Mrs. Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Mr. Sandy Mitchell on the exchange of prisoners with the Saudi Arabian Government and the US Administration; and if he will make a statement. [182977]
Mr. Mullin: The release of Saudi detainees from Guantanamo is a matter for the US and Saudi Governments. It would not be appropriate for either Ministers or officials to discuss this matter with Mr. Mitchell.
Ministers, including my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, have spoken to Mr. Mitchell since his return to the UK. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials remain in contact with him. We were relieved that he was released and returned to the UK. This was something we worked very hard for.
North Korea
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with North Korea in recent months as regards its nuclear programme. [184239]
Mr. MacShane: The six-party talks process, the aim of which is the creation of a Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons, is continuing. While the United Kingdom is not involved in the talks we do fully support the process, and carefully monitor developments. We welcome the constructive approach that North Korea is taking towards the process.
Public Relations
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the salary costs to the Department were for employees working in public relations and publicity in each year since 1997. [183855]
Mr. Mullin: Foreign and Commonwealth Office costs in relation to 2003–04 are not yet available. The salary costs to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of employees working in public relations and publicity came to £1.8 million in 2001–02 and £2.1 million in 2002–03. These figures exclude the salary costs of employees working on public diplomacy (the objective of which is to promote the UK overseas), recruitment advertising, provision of public information such as travel advice, and production of annual reports. They also exclude costs associated with Press and Public Affairs Officers at overseas posts, which could be provided only at disproportionate costs. Figures for previous years are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
Rwanda
Mr. Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the current situation in Rwanda. [184999]
Mr. Mullin:
Rwanda has made impressive political and economic progress since the 1994 genocide and is on track to meet the targets outlined in its Poverty Reduction Strategy. But there is now a need to open up political space and build greater democratic
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accountability. We continue to press the Rwandan Government on the need to improve human rights and democratic openness and we continue to monitor their progress.
Spending Review
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the oral statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of 12 July 2004, Official Report, columns 1129–39, on the spending review, what the total value is of his Department's assets, broken down by those held (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) abroad. [185005]
Mr. Straw [holding answer 20 July 2004]: The total book value as at 31 March 2004 for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's fixed assets (i.e. non-current assets) is approximately £1,223 million.
Of this approximately 16 per cent. is UK based with the balance being located abroad:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| UK | 195 |
| Overseas | l,028 |
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the oral statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of 12 July 2004, Official Report, columns 1129–39, on the spending review, whether the £51 million combined increase for the World Service and the British Council is included in the 1.4 per cent. departmental increase. [185006]
Mr. Straw [holding answer 20 July 2004]: Yes.
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the oral statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of 12 July 2004, Official Report, columns 1129–39, on the spending review, which assets his Department has identified (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) abroad which will be sold off. [185007]
Mr. Straw [holding answer 20 July 2004]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has no property assets for sale in the United Kingdom.
Assets currently being sold overseas are:
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The FCO will continue to keep its estate holdings under review, and will participate in consultations with Sir Michael Lyons in due course.
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