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Safe Countries
Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and the European Union on assembling a new list of safe countries. [213182]
Mr. Alexander:
Discussion of the EU safe country list has been postponed until after the adoption of the proposal for a Council directive on minimum standards on procedures in member states for granting and withdrawing refugee status. We await the outcome of consultation with the European Parliament on this directive.
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Stationery
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent on stationery in each of the last seven years. [210580]
Mr. Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office spent £1,345,639.51 on stationery in financial year 2004–05. This was made up as follows:
The information requested for the six years prior to 2004–05 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Tsunami Relief
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) financial and (b) other assistance is offered by the Government to the families of British citizens who have died in the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster. [210944]
Mr. Alexander: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has put in place an assistance package which is available to the families of British citizens who have died in the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster.
The package may contain any of the following elements depending on the case:
Travel Assistance for families:
Return business class airfares to the airport nearest the site of the incident for two members of the victim's family
Longer-term assistance for families:
FCO officials and UK police personnel are working with the relevant local authorities to identify and repatriate the bodies of British victims of the tsunami as quickly as possible. Over 300 police family liaison officers have been assigned to bereaved families.
UK Overseas Territories
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit UK Overseas Territories during the next 12months. [210577]
Mr. Rammell:
Foreign engagements for my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary 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 an announcement is sometimes not possible until a visit is under way.
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Ukraine
Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports the Government have received concerning the role of the Ukrainian Security Services following the first run of the Ukrainian presidential election. [210782]
Mr. MacShane: The Government followed events in Ukraine closely during the period of the elections. It received regular reports on the situation that covered, among other things, the role of the Ukrainian Security Services.
Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's relations with the Ukraine following the recent election. [211278]
Mr. MacShane: The Government looks forward to strengthening relations with Ukraine both bilaterally and through the EU and NATO. I began this process when I represented the United Kingdom at President Yushchenko's inauguration in Kiev last Sunday and had talks with senior officials who are expected to take up ministerial posts. I expressed our Government's support for President Yushchenko's ambitious programme to develop Ukraine as a European democratic market economy under the rule of law.
UN Humanitarian Programmes
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) discussions he had and (b) measures his Department is taking in the United Nations to ensure that future UN humanitarian programmes are not abused. [210583]
Mr. Rammell: The Government takes very seriously all allegations of abuse and corruption concerning any UN programme or activity. We are co-operating fully with the Independent Inquiry Committee (IIC) set up by the UN to investigate allegations relating to the UN's Iraq Oil for Food programme. We will study the IIC's findings and recommendations carefully. The UN and its members need to draw lessons from past experience to improve future performance.
The UK is also pressing for full information on recent allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation in UN peacekeeping missions. The UN Secretary-General has shown determination to deal with this problem, and appointed Prince Zeid of Jordan as a special adviser. Prince Zeid's report will produce recommendations to ensure that these issues are properly dealt with in theatre and in the UN.
Venezuela/Colombia
Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of (a) relations between Columbia and Venezuela and (b) the implications ofthose relations for (i) UK-Venezuelan relations, (ii) UK-Columbian relations and (iii) the wider region. [210778]
Mr. Rammell:
Relations between Colombia and Venezuela are currently strained, following the capture of a member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of
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Colombia (PARC) on Venezuelan territory. Venezuela has recalled its ambassador to Colombia and suspended future commercial projects between the two countries. We understand that other regional governments, including Peru and Brazil, have offered to mediate in the dispute. We hope that the Colombian and Venezuelan Governments are able to resolve this dispute swiftly and amicably.
We have no reason to believe that the current dispute between Colombia and Venezuela will impact on our bilateral relationship with either country. We continue to work closely with both countries on issues of mutual interest.
Venezuela and Colombia are the largest economies in the Andean region and have an important role to play in the fight against terrorism and narcotics trafficking. It is important in the regional context that the two countries manage to overcome their current problems and resume close and constructive relations.
Welsh Language Scheme
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department's Welsh language scheme was approved by the Welsh Language Board; and on what date the scheme was implemented. [211332]
Mr. Straw: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not have a Welsh Language Scheme. However, we translate certain key publications into Welsh. In 2004 these included the Guide to the European Union" and Wales: European Enlargement".
Western Sahara
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects a UN referendum to be held on the future of the Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement. [210705]
Mr. Rammell: The United Kingdom fully supports the efforts of the UN Secretary General and his Special Representative Alvaro de Soto to find a just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution to the Western Sahara dispute which provides the people of the Western Sahara with an opportunity to exercise their right to self-determination. There are no plans for a UN referendum to be held in the near future.
We believe UN efforts to find a solution to the dispute should be maintained and continue to urge all parties to the dispute to engage constructively with the UN.
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