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Yarl's Wood

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions took place between him, the Immigration and Nationality Directorate and Group 4 Amey Immigration Ltd. about the development of policies in respect of high risk detainees prior to the opening of the Yarl's Wood Detention Centre; and if he will make a statement. [206174]

Mr. Browne: There were regular meetings between Immigration and Nationality Directorate officials and Group 4 Amey International Ltd. to discuss operational issues prior to the opening of Yarl's Wood. We were committed to ensuring spaces at Yarl's Wood were used appropriately, and this would include the transfer of immigration detainees from Prison Service establishments who were deemed suitable for this accommodation.

Zimbabwe

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the recommendations made by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees that all removals to Zimbabwe should be suspended; [209611]

(2) what representations he has received on deportations of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe. [209612]

Mr. Browne: We have received over 80 representations, mostly from members of the public, opposing the ending of the temporary suspension of enforced returns of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has based its recommendations on a broad assessment of conditions in Zimbabwe generally. Asylum and human rights decisions are not based on general conditions in a country, they are made case by case according to the risk that the individual applicant would face. Asylum and human rights claims by Zimbabwean nationals are considered on their individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). As with any other nationality, Zimbabweans
 
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who meet the definition of a refugee in the 1951 Convention are granted asylum. If they do not qualify for asylum, but there are other circumstances that make them particularly vulnerable and engage our obligations under the ECHR, they are granted humanitarian protection or discretionary leave. If their application is refused, they have a right of appeal to the independent appellate authorities. In this way we ensure that we provide protection to those Zimbabweans who need it.

Each application is considered against the background of the latest available country information from a wide range of reliable sources including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, other international organisations, non-governmental organisations, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the media. Decisions are based on the specific circumstances of the individual concerned. It is clear that there are Zimbabweans in need of international protection, but if an asylum and human rights claim is refused, and any appeal to the independent appellate authorities is unsuccessful, that means that it would be safe for that particular individual to return to Zimbabwe.

Voluntary returns have continued throughout the period that enforced returns were temporarily suspended. There is no evidence to suggest that voluntary returnees or those whose return has been enforced since the suspension was ended have suffered any mistreatment on return.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Anticipatory Self-Defence

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs whether it is the Government's policy to support the doctrine of anticipatory self-defence in the context of international affairs. [212219]

Mr. Alexander: Article 51 of the UN Charter provides that,
 
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Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations".

That right of self-defence is not limited to a response to an actual armed attack. It has been the consistent position of successive United Kingdom Governments over many years that the right of self-defence under international law includes the right to use force where an armed attack is imminent.

Asian Tsunami (Islamic Fundamentalism)

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment the Government have made of the impact of the Asian tsunami on levels of Islamic fundamentalism in South East Asia in the (a) short term and (b) medium to long term; and what plans have been made to discuss this issue with the (i) Thai and (ii) Indonesian Governments. [209151]

Mr. Alexander: The efforts of the British Government in the time since the tsunami occurred on 26 December have been in assisting governments in the area, with other international partners, in the immediate crisis. We have made no assessment of the impact of this on Islamic fundamentalism. We have a good dialogue with the Thai and Indonesian Government on these issues, and will continue to discuss these issues with them.

Asylum Seekers

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it remains the Government's position that the UK retains the right to decide whether to opt in to EU asylum measures, as set out in his oral answer of 16 December 2003, Official Report, column 1427, following the European Commission's statement on 24 January on asylum policy. [211878]

Mr. MacShane: Yes.

Burma

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the EU embargo on the sale of arms to Burma extends to components that can be used for the manufacture of military equipment. [209768]

Mr. Alexander: Yes. I refer the hon. Member to Council Common Position 2004/423/CFSP.

Paragraph 2 (a) of Article 3 prohibits:

to grant, sell, supply, or transfer technical assistance, brokering services and other services related to military activities and to the provision, manufacture, maintenance and use of arms and related material of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment, and spare parts for the aforementioned, as well as equipment which might be used for internal repression, directly or indirectly to any persons, entity or body in, or for use in Burma/Myanmar."

Chagos Islanders

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the
 
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Library a summary of the advice of Government lawyers in the judicial review case concerning the Orders in Council affecting the Chagos islanders. [207769]

Mr. Rammell: The advice requested is subject to legal professional privilege. In any event, this matter remains before the court.

Indonesia

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether weapons exported by British companies to Indonesia have been used in internal repression in the last year, with particular reference to the statement made by Colonel Sudarsono relating to the use made of scorpion tanks. [208379]

Mr. Alexander: Our embassy in Jakarta continually assesses whether weapons exported by British companies to Indonesia have been used in breach of human rights. To do this it receives information from a wide range of sources including international agencies, NGOs, other observers, the media and the Indonesian Government. In the last year there have been no confirmed reports that British-built military equipment has been used for internal repression. We follow up all credible allegations on the misuse of British military equipment.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons oil production supplies in Iraq have not been properly metered; and if he will make a statement. [208734]

Mr. Rammell: Installation of oil metering equipment is an important measure to preserve Iraq's oil resources.

Prior to military action in Iraq there were no functioning meters in the Iraqi oil system. At the handover of authority on 28 June 2004 the issue remained outstanding. Currently Iraqi oil exports, either by pipeline to Ceyhan in Turkey or by tanker through the Arabian Gulf, are metered as they pass into the receiving tanks.

The Iraqi Ministry of Oil is responsible for ensuring meters are installed on Iraq's oil wellheads. The Ministry has established a committee to develop and install a metering system for the entire Iraqi oil industry. However a comprehensive system to measure crude oil output is a complex task beginning in the oil fields themselves. This involves conducting a design study that will identify the type of meters and their locations required for measuring crude oil.

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government in Iraq that is formed after the 30 January elections will represent the vote in the elections; and if he will make a statement. [208735]

Mr. Rammell: Elections for the 275-member Transitional National Assembly (TNA) were held on 30 January, under the single national constituency proportional representation system. Under the transitional administrative law, the TNA will elect a
 
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three person presidency, which will appoint a Prime Minister. The Cabinet recommended by the Prime Minister must be endorsed by the TNA and presidency.

Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department is providing to enable UK-resident Iraqis to participate in the forthcoming election in Iraq. [209716]

Mr. Rammell: Out of country voting (OCV) for the Iraqi elections was organised by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Following consultation with Iraqi groups in the UK, the IOM established polling centres in London, Manchester and Glasgow. The Government do not have a direct role in OCV, although British officials have met regularly with IOM officials in support of the process. So far the IOM has not requested any specific help from the Government.

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