---

18 Nov 2004 : Column 1789W—continued

Iraq

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on Iraq, with particular reference to the situation in Falluja; [199264]

(2) what emergency (a) medical supplies, (b) personnel and (c) equipment will be provided by the UK to assist those injured by coalition forces attacks upon Fallujah. [199265]

Mr. Mullin: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation, for which I apologise.

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what methods are being used to examine the report in The Lancet on Iraqi civilian deaths; which personnel have been assigned to conduct the examination; and when the examination began. [197211]

Mr. Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made a written statement on The Lancet report on 17 November 2004, Official Report, columns 92–95WS). The estimate made in The Lancet article is at marked variance with the civilian death rate shown in figures compiled by Iraqi hospital staff since April. These figures, which report just under 4,000 Iraqi civilian casualties for the last 6 months, come from admissions to 182 hospitals.

Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whose control the main hospital in Fallujah is under. [199089]

Mr. Rammell: The Iraqi Security Forces recaptured Fallujah General Hospital on 7 November. The hospital remains under Iraqi Interim Government control.

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in respect of information set out at paragraphs 91 and 92 of the Intelligence and Security Committee Report, Cm 5972, the Government have been informed as to when the US Federal Bureau of Intelligence investigation ordered by Senator Rockefeller in March 2003 into the source of the forged documents on an Iraq-Niger uranium deal is due to report. [187544]

Mr. MacShane: The investigation requested by Senator Rockefeller is continuing. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has not yet given an indication of when the investigation will be completed.

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is with regard to the handing over to the Iraqi authorities of Iraqi detainees who could face the death penalty. [189326]

Mr. Rammell [holding answer 16 September 2004]: Under CPA Memorandum 3. which applies to UK forces post 28 June, we are required to hand over
 
18 Nov 2004 : Column 1790W
 
apprehended persons suspected of having committed criminal acts to the Iraqi criminal justice system as soon as practically possible.

We have lobbied and will continue to lobby the Iraqi Government against the application of the death penalty in all cases.

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when British officials first became aware of allegations of mistreatment of detainees at Abu Ghraib. [189800]

Mr. Rammell: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation, for which I apologise.

Ivory Coast

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the possibility of conflict in the Ivory Coast spreading to neighbouring West African countries; and what discussions have taken place with the African Union on preventing regional instability. [199041]

Mr. Mullin: We remain concerned at the possibility of the conflict spreading, and recent reports of refugees fleeing to Liberia. We have called on neighbouring countries in UN Security Council Resolutions 1528 and 1572, to co-operate on regional stability. We welcome the efforts of the African Union to end the violence and bring about a political settlement based on the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement.

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to help prevent a full-scale conflict within the Ivory Coast between government forces and northern rebels; and what discussions have taken place between the Government and (a) the UN, (b) the Government of France and (c) the Cote D'Ivoire Government on resolving the situation. [199042]

Mr. Mullin: We have strongly condemned in the UN the resumption of violence in Cote d'lvoire. The UN delivered a strong message to all the parties including the Government of the Cote d'Ivoire, through UN Security Council Resolution 1572, that they must implement immediately the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement. The Resolution also imposes an immediate arms embargo, and a travel ban and assets freeze on those who block the peace process. We fully support the action undertaken by French forces and the UN operation in Cote d'Ivoire. We remain in close contact with the Government of France on next steps.

Loos Battlefield

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the Government of France regarding the preservation of Loos battlefield; and if he will make a statement. [198532]

Mr. MacShane: Her Majesty's consul general at Lille, and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Director for Information, visited an area of the Loos Battlefields on 12 November and met the Mayor of Auchy les Mines and the landowner of a local landfill site. The consul general highlighted strong
 
18 Nov 2004 : Column 1791W
 
public concern in the UK following media reports that waste material was being deposited in an area where British soldiers fell during the 1915 Battle of Loos. At the end of the First World War, British authorities cleared the battlefield and soldiers' remains were interred in local CWGC cemeteries. The consul general reminded the local authorities of their obligation to treat any further remains of British and Commonwealth soldiers, should they be discovered, with dignity and respect, and CWGC have followed up in writing. The French authorities decided to cease this particular landfill operation from 17 November 2004. We will remain fully engaged with all British and Commonwealth War Grave issues throughout France and around the world.

Malaysia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with members of the Malaysian Government concerning their policy on illegal immigrants and the impact of that policy on the Rohingya refugees; and if he will make a statement. [199165]

Mr. Alexander: The British high commission in Kuala Lumpur continues to raise our concerns with the Malaysian Government over the issue of illegal immigrants and the status of Rohingya refugees.

We therefore welcome the recent announcement from the Prime Minister's office with regard to the status of the Rohingyas. The Malaysian Government have indicated that those Rohingyas who have been documented and given refugee status by the UN High Commission for Refugees will be issued with ID cards. This will entitle them to legal status in Malaysia, enabling them to find work and giving their children access to education.

Maldives

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations on the need to ensure the Maldives Government general election campaign is conducted to internationally accepted standards; and if he will make a statement. [198554]

Mr. Alexander: The parliamentary elections due in the Maldives on 31 December come at an important moment in the country's democratic reform process. We have already welcomed many of the reform proposals outlined by President Gayoom in June and his stated commitment to an open and inclusive reform process. The elections will enable the international community to judge whether President Gayoom and the Maldives Government are genuinely committed to reform. We look to the Government of the Maldives to ensure that the election process is free and fair and in accordance with international standards; that all who wish to stand for election are allowed to stand and campaign freely; that the electorate and the media are allowed to engage in open debate; and that state resources are not used to favour some candidates more than others. Without a free and fair election, the Maldives long-term stability and prosperity will be at risk. My officials and I will be raising these points with representatives of the
 
18 Nov 2004 : Column 1792W
 
Government. We welcome the Government of the Maldives invitation to the Commonwealth Secretariat to send an observer team.

---