Supplementary memorandum submitted by
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
LETTER TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE FROM
THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH
OFFICE
At the oral evidence session on 2 March, I promised
to follow up certain points in a letter to you.
At the end of 1994, four Upholder class submarines
were withdrawn from the Royal Navy service and became available
for sales or lease. South Africa expressed an interest in the
submarines and, for a while, was one of the countries in contention
for them. In the event, South Africa chose not to purchase or
lease the Upholders.
HMG did, and does, support British commercial
interests in South Africa. We did not seek to direct or interfere
in the decisions of the South African Government in their Strategic
Defence Review.
The UK Government is supportive of efforts by
the African Union, African sub-regional organisations and members
of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) to promote
peace and security in Africa. The African Union's commitment to
establishing an African Standby Force to carry out peace support
operations mandated by the AU Peace and Security Council is welcome.
The structure of the force is still to be agreed. It is therefore
difficult to outline the exact size and nature of UK support.
In recent years the UK has provided long-term peace support operations
training in many countries including South Africa, Kenya, Ghana
and Nigeria; all likely to be significant contributors to the
African Standby Force. This support will continue in future years.
In 2005, when we hold the G8 Presidency, we will aim to encourage
better international co-ordination in support of both the African
Union and African sub-regional organisations such as ECOWAS.
The British High Commission in South Africa
has been involved in a programme of support to Alexandra township
police station for the last three years. This has culminated in
the secondment of a Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officer
to the station to advise on community policing issues, including
the policing of domestic violence. Tackling the problem of domestic
violence is a priority area for the South African Police and the
European Commission in Pretoria has also developed a programme
to tackle it and crimes against children. This programme is due
to start this year and the MPS has offered their help to the programme
managers. The MPS secondee in Alexandra has already met with the
team, who will be using the lessons learned from our work to inform
their own. Future work by the High Commission will be dependent
on securing funds to continue the twinning project between Southwark
Police and Alexandra Police stations.
Details of HMG's funding are advertised on the
High Commission and DfID websites (www.britain.org.za and www.dfid.gov.uk).
There are a number of UK charities operating in South Africa which
have HIV/AIDS programmes. And there are several NGOs, eg the Southern
African Grantmakers Association (www.donors.org.za) which already
produce directories of available funding.
As requested, I enclose a copy of the UK/South
Africa MOU on the Reciprocal Educational Exchange of Healthcare
Concepts and Personnel signed on 25 October 2003.
Chris Mullin MP
22 March 2004
Annex
Memorandum of Understanding between the
Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland and the Government of the Republic of South Africa on
the Reciprocal Educational Exchange of Healthcare Concepts and
Personnel
PREAMBLE
The Government of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland (hereinafter referred to as "UK")
and the Government of the Republic of South Africa (hereinafter
referred to as "South Africa") and jointly referred
to as the "Parties" and in the singular as a "Party");
Desirous to consolidate and strengthen
the friendly ties and reciprocal understanding between the Parties;
Conscious of the desirability of promoting
to the greatest possible extent the mutual knowledge, experience
and understanding of their respective human and development needs
in the field covered by this Memorandum of Understanding by means
of friendly cooperation between them;
Considering the Parties wish to enhance
their bilateral relations in respect of Public Health and Health
Care Policy;
Considering the mutual interest of the
Parties in exchange programmes for officials of each Party, and
that professionals selected to join the programme have an opportunity
to enhance clinical/technical skills and explore best experiences.
Hereby Agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
OBJECTIVE OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
The Objective of this Memorandum of Understanding
is to enhance clinical/technical skills and to explore best practice
in health care delivery.
ARTICLE 2
SCOPE OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
The Scope of this Memorandum of Understanding
is as follows:
1. Giving cognisance to the existing commitment
of the UK to ethical international workforce policies and practices
as clearly outlined in their Department of Health's Guide to International
Recruitment 1999, and the UK Code of Practice for National Health
Services (NHS) employers 2001, both parties shall formulate an
agreed plan whereby, South African healthcare personnel can spend
mutually agreed period of time on education and practice in organisations
providing National Health Services;
2. The Memorandum of Understanding will
also enable clinical staff from England to work alongside healthcare
personnel in the Republic of South Africa, with particular emphasis
on the rural areas; and
3. The Parties shall exchange information,
advice and expertise in:
(c)
workforce planning and development, including the
National Health Services and academic interface;
(e)
public-private partnerships, including private finance
initiatives;
(f)
revitalisation of hospitals, including governance
(corporate and clinical) and re-engineering;
4. The Parties shall collaborate with the
following institutions:
ARTICLE 3
SPECIFIC PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS
Activities described in this Memorandum of Understanding
may be implemented by the Parties through the development of specific
arrangements, programmes or projects between the appropriate agencies
and offices of the Parties. Such arrangements, programmes or projects
should specify inter alia the objectives, activities, organisation,
financial arrangements and other details relating to specific
undertakings of all participants involved.
ARTICLE 4
COMPETENT AUTHORITIES
The competent authorities responsible for the
implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding shall be:
(a) in the case of the UK, the Department
of Health, represented in the Republic of South Africa by the
High Commission of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland; and
(b) in the case of South Africa, its national
Department of Health.
ARTICLE 5
TRAINING
The Parties shall facilitate mutual access to
universities, colleges and schools of training for the health
professionals during:
(c)
postgraduate training;
ARTICLE 6
SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES
Any disputes between the Parties, which may
arise in the course of the implementation and interpretation of
this Memorandum of Understanding, shall be settled amicably through
consultation or negotiation between the Parties.
ARTICLE 7
AMENDMENTS TO THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
This Memorandum of Understanding may be amended
by mutual consent of the Parties through an Exchange of Notes
between the Parties through the diplomatic channel.
ARTICLE 8
ENTRY INTO FORCE AND TERMINATION
1. This Memorandum of Understanding shall
enter into force on the date of its signature thereof.
2. This Memorandum of Understanding shall
remain in force for a period of five (5) years but may be terminated
by either Party giving three months written notice in advance
through the diplomatic channel of its intention to terminate it.
3. If deemed necessary, the Parties, by
written mutual consent, may decide to extend the duration of this
Memorandum of Understanding.
4. The termination of this Memorandum of
Understanding shall not affect the validity and duration of any
ongoing arrangements, programmes and projects undertaken under
this Memorandum of Understanding, until the completion of such
programmes or activities.
LETTER TO THE PARLIAMENTARY RELATIONS AND
DEVOLUTION DEPARTMENT, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, FROM THE
SECOND CLERK OF THE COMMITTEE, DATED 17 MARCH 2004
HIGH COMMISSIONER'S
RESIDENCE IN
CAPE TOWN
You may have seen the following exchange in
the Committee's recent evidence session with Mr Mullin, during
its inquiry into "South Africa":
Q224 Mr Hamilton: I hope that in considering
our work in South Africa that you do not consider selling off
the residence in Cape Town.
Mr Mullin: It is funny
that you should mention that. We have actually been awaiting the
recommendation of our High Commissioner on that issue and she
has recommended that the Cape Town residence to be sold. We have
not made a decision about that, but we are thinking about it.
Q225 Mr Hamilton: Obviously I cannot speak
for the entire Committee, but certainly my view is that it should
not be sold. It is a huge asset to us there. We saw it ourselves
and we saw just what extraordinary good effect it had and how
we were able to entertain virtually half the parliament there
as well as half the government.
Mr Mullin: I think the
Foreign Office would be very interested to hear the Committee's
views on that issue.
The Committee have asked me to seek clarification
from you as to the exact status of the Residence at this time,
in relation to the asset recycling programme, and the timescale
for any decisions on its future retention or sale. It also wishes
to know how the proceeds of any sale of this property would be
used by the Department. I look forward to receiving your reply
in due course.
Geoffrey Farrar
Second Clerk of the Committee
17 March 2004
LETTER FROM PARLIAMENTARY RELATIONS AND DEVOLUTION
DEPARTMENT TO SECOND CLERK OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Thank you for your letter of 17 March asking
for clarification of the FCO's intentions towards the High Commissioner's
Residence in Cape Town. I apologise for the delay in replying
to you.
We have noted the FAC's interest in the Residence,
and the views expressed during Mr Mullin's oral evidence session
on 2 March.
We will let the FAC know when we have reached
a decision on the future of the Residence, and the reasons for
that decision.
Matthew Hamlyn
26 April 2004
| 
