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19 Jan 2005 : Column 1013W—continued
Sickness Absence
Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many days sick leave were taken by civil servants in the Department in each year since 1997; and what the sickness absence rate was in each year. [204510]
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Ms Hewitt:
The following table sets out the number of days sick absence and average absence rates in DT HQ and the Small Business Service between years ending 31 March 2000 and 31 March 2004. Earlier information is not readily available and would incur disproportionate cost to obtain.
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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Burma
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support requests by representatives of ethnic national groups in Burma, including the Shan, Karen and Karenni, to address the United Nations General Assembly and other UN forums. [209054]
Mr. Alexander: We fully support the representatives of Burmese ethnic groups addressing UN bodies which are mandated to accept their evidence. In general, only UN member states and observer states are able to address the UN General Assembly. However evidence provided to other UN Committees and Working Groups, and at UN General Assembly side-events, can help raise the awareness of UN members to the human rights abuses that are taking place in Burma. The UK also played a key role in drafting last year's UN General Assembly Human Rights Resolution on Burma. The Resolution, adopted by the UN in December, condemned the many human rights abuses in the country, including against ethnic groups.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has made to the Association of South East Asian Nations to urge the Government of Burma to allow unrestricted access to independent human rights monitors and humanitarian aid organisations to all parts of Burma; [209056]
(2) he will urge the Government of Burma to allow unrestricted access for independent human rights monitors and humanitarian aid organisations to all parts of Burma. [209057]
Mr. Alexander: Securing increased access to all areas of the country for independent human rights monitors and humanitarian aid organisations is an important objective. We are working with international organisations such as the UN and the Association of South East Asian Nations to encourage the Burmese authorities to allow this.
We welcome the decision by the regime to allow the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees access to eastern parts of Burma.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has made to the Government of Burma about the imprisonment of (a) Huiun May Aung and (b) Dr. Zaw Myint Maung; [209058]
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(2) what representations he has made to the Government of Burma about the imprisonment of Aye Myint Than. [209060]
Mr. Alexander: I met the Burmese Ambassador on 29 November and called for the release of all political prisoners in Burma. My statement on 30 November also called for the release of all political prisoners. A copy of the statement is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/news/press-releases.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many political prisoners are on death row in Tharawaddy prison in Burma. [209059]
Mr. Alexander: We understand from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners that there are six such prisoners, but we do not have independent corroboration of this.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make representations to the International Committee of the Red Cross to monitor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's well-being through regular visits; [209061]
(2) what discussions he has had with the National League for Democracy in Burma about the medical condition of Aung San Suu Kyi; [209064]
(3) what representations he has made to the Government of Burma about (a) the reduction and (b) the withdrawal of Aung San Suu Kyi's security detail; [209065]
(4) if he will make representations to the State Peace and Develoment Council in Burma (a) to allow Daw Aung San Suu Kyi free access to her personal physician, (b) to end the intimidation and harassment of that physician and (c) to permit the National League for Democracy Youths to remain in Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's compound to take care of her; [209072]
(5) if he will issue a public statement expressing concern about the safety and health of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and emphasising that the Burmese military is responsible for her safety and health. [209251]
Mr. Alexander:
I am deeply concerned that the Burmese military government has formally extended Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest for another year. As I made clear on 30 November 2004, her continued detention is completely unjustified and unacceptable. A copy of my statement is available on the Foreign and
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Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/news/press-releases. We have repeatedly called for her immediate release, most recently when I met the Burmese Ambassador on 29 November 2004, and we will continue to raise the issue with the Burmese authorities. We and our EU and international partners as well as the UN and other international agencies and the Association of South East Asian Nations have all called for the restrictions on her to be lifted.
In the meantime our Embassy in Rangoon monitors the situation closely and maintains contact with the National League for Democracy, including in regard to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's state of health. Her doctor is able to visit her occasionally and I agree with the hon. Member that the State Peace and Development Council is responsible for her safety and health, as it is for the safety and health of all political prisoners in Burma.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to put the conduct of the Government of Burma on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council as a regional and international concern on the grounds of (a) crimes against humanity, (b) the refugee situation in neighbouring countries and (c) involvement in the narcotics trade. [209073]
Mr. Alexander: We have raised our concerns on the situation in Burma with our Security Council Partners. However, there is no consensus at present to bring Burma before the Security Council.
China
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what stance the Government took on the decision of the EU to lift the arms embargo on China. [209605]
Mr. Rammell: The Government supported the decision of the European Council in December 2003 to review the EU Arms Embargo on China. This review is ongoing.
The European Council in December 2004 discussed the embargo. The UK and partners invited the Luxembourg Presidency of the EU to take forward work on the review. The Government could envisage embargo lift subject to satisfaction on the issues laid out in the Conclusions of that Council.
Until the review process is complete, the Government continues to implement the Arms Embargo as set out by the then Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the late Derek Fatchett, in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Vernon Coaker) on 3 June 1998, Official Report, columns 240- 41.
Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter dated 29 November 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Z. Azi. [208704]
Mr. Mullin:
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary replied on 17 January.
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Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter dated 15 November 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Samiul Alam. [208705]
Mr. Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary replied on 7 December.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter dated 9 November 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to S. Hameed. [208712]
Mr. Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary replied on 20 December.
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