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19 Oct 2004 : Column 658W—continued
Iraq Survey Group Report
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government have been provided with the full version of the Iraq Survey Group report, including the names of the United States oil companies and individuals that traded with Iraq. [190692]
Mr. MacShane: Yes. A full version of the report was passed, in confidence, to the Government. The version which the Iraq Survey Group subsequently published was redacted for legal and security reasons.
Ministers' Private Offices
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the running costs of Ministers' private offices in his Department have been in each year since 1997. [191387]
Mr. Rammell: The cost in cash terms of running the ministerial private offices (five prior to financial year 2001–02 and six since) are laid out in the following table:
| Financial year | Costs (£) |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 1,920,246 |
| 1998–99 | 1,791,783 |
| 1999–2000 | 2,360,535 |
| 2000–01 | 2,341,747 |
| 2001–02 | 2,268,543 |
| 2002–03 | 2,333,481 |
| 2003–04 | 2,585,503 |
The budget (projected spend) for the 2004–05 financial year is £2,306,700.
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the Department spent on (a) maintenance, (b) renovation, (c) council tax and (d) running costs of residential properties used by Ministers and officials in each year since 1997. [191407]
Mr. Rammell:
In the UK, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office maintains official residential accommodation for my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary at No. 1 Carlton Gardens. The spend each year on (a) maintenance, (b) renovation, (c) council tax and (d) running costs since 1997 is as follows.
19 Oct 2004 : Column 659W
| £ | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | 2003–04 | |
| Maintenance | 19,093 | 3,510 | 24,561 | 15,918 | 1,245 | 4,089 | 8,910 |
| Renovation | 3,354 | 15,246 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Council tax | 202 | 325 | 350 | 375 | 410 | 491 | 570 |
| Running costs | |||||||
| Rent | 15,225 | 25,180 | 27,300 | 54,000 | 54,000 | 54,000 | 54,772 |
| Utilities | 6,637 | 8,048 | 1,620 | 4,723 | 5,251 | 3,971 | 2,150 |
| Total | 44,511 | 52,309 | 53,831 | 75,016 | 60,906 | 62,551 | 66,402 |
Mr. Najib Muhammed Tahir
Mr. Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take immediate steps to enable Mr. Najib Muhammed Tahir to enter the UK following the representations made to him, reference GV100/91329/NMJ Post Ref 643719. [192259]
Mr. Mullin [holding answer 18 October 2004]: I will write to my hon. Friend.
Pakistan
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent changes in the level of (a) attacks and (b) human rights violations of Christians in Pakistan. [191113]
Mr. Alexander: The British Government are concerned by all reports of violent incidents involving the persecution of Christians in Pakistan. We have noted that this persecution continues but have not detected any significant changes. We continue to remind the Government and authorities in Pakistan of the importance we attach to respect for human rights.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Pakistani authorities on their interpretation of the blasphemy law and allied legislation. [191114]
Mr. Alexander: We have raised our concerns about blasphemy laws, bilaterally and with EU colleagues, with the Pakistani Government on a number of occasions. Most recently the Secretary of State for Defence discussed the blasphemy laws and other related legislation when he met President Musharraf in Islamabad on 6 October.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will intervene in the cases of (a) Pastor Yousaf, recently kidnapped in Hyderabad and (b) Asghar Masih, accused of blasphemy. [191115]
Mr. Alexander: We are aware of the cases of both Pastor Yousaf and Asghar Masih. We take a serious view of all cases of religious intolerance and discrimination in any form and condemn any instance in which individuals are persecuted because of their faith.
Our High Commission in Islamabad will be raising both these cases with the Pakistani Parliamentarians Commission for Human rights in Pakistan at their next meeting.
19 Oct 2004 : Column 660W
Palestinian Territory
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in the Palestinian territory. [190656]
Mr. Rammell [holding answer 18 October 2004]: We remain extremely concerned by the situation in Gaza. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary issued a statement on 4 October and expressed our concern to Israeli Foreign Minister Shalom the same day. My noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean also raised this with the Israeli ambassador on 6 October. On 13 October the Foreign Secretary issued a second statement reiterating his concerns, and the issue was again raised at official level with the Israeli ambassador. Copies of the Foreign Secretary's press releases are available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/news/press-releases. British embassy officials in Tel Aviv have lobbied the Israeli Defence Force (IDF), and we continue to urge Israel to act proportionately, with restraint and in accordance with international law. We also have continuing concerns about closures and the IDF presence elsewhere in the Occupied Territories.
The Palestinian Authority also has a clear obligation to prevent terrorist attacks, including Qassam rocket attacks, emanating from the territories they control. We continue to support the Palestinian Authority in order to build up its effectiveness in delivering security.
Paul Cleasby
Mr. Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the arrest of Paul Cleasby of Windermere, Cumbria on 27 September in Antalya, Turkey and his subsequent imprisonment; what representations he has made to the Turkish government on this matter; and what advice and support the Government will provide to Mr. Cleasby and his family. [192023]
Mr. Mullin
[holding answer 18 October 2004]: Paul Cleasby was arrested on 27 September for attempting to smuggle antiquities out of Turkey. On 28 September the Turkish prosecutor reviewed the evidence and decided Mr. Cleasby should remain in custody while investigations continued. Consular staff in Antalya are in regular touch with Mr. Cleasby, and staff in the UK are in touch with his family. Mr. Cleasby's lawyer has raised an objection to his continued imprisonment with the Turkish prosecutor, and we understand that the next court hearing will take place on 8 November.
19 Oct 2004 : Column 661W
As the case proceeds we will continue to offer the appropriate consular assistance to Mr. Cleasby and his family.
Spain
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Minister for Europe next plans to visit Spain. [191584]
Mr. MacShane: Foreign engagements for myself and other Ministers are kept under constant review. It is not our practice to announce such visits until they are firm. Because of the unpredictable nature of world events, final decisions on overseas visits are often not possible until very shortly before the day of travel and occasionally not until they are under way.
Ukraine
Mr. Soley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the conduct of the elections in the Ukraine. [191349]
Mr. Rammell: I refer my hon. Friend to the declaration on the conduct of the elections in Ukraine issued by the EU on 29 September and to the conclusions of the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) on 11 October. In the conclusions the GAERC called for Ukraine to
"safeguard all necessary conditions for holding free, fair and transparent presidential elections this autumn".
The conclusions also reminded the Ukranians that
"the conduct of the elections will be proof of Ukraine's commitment to the democratic values of the Council of Europe and the OSCE, and bears great significance for EU-Ukraine relations".
The full text of the EU declaration is available on the Presidency's website at http://www.eu2004.nl/default. asp7CMSJTEM-A19580D690DA410EAAE6EFC2 DAFE707X1X48135X75 and the conclusions of the GAERC at http://ue.eu. int/cms3 applications/applications/newsRoom/loadBook.asp?BID=71&L ANG=l&cmsid=349.
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