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22 Feb 2005 : Column 584W—continued

Kenya

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the resignation of John Githongo as head of Kenya's anti-corruption team. [217186]

Mr. Mullin: We regret the resignation of the Permanent Secretary in the Office of Governance and Ethics on 7 February. John Githongo is a person of integrity, courage and principle intensely committed to fighting corruption.

It is too soon to judge the full implications of his resignation, but the international community has expressed its serious concerns at the impact upon the Kenyan Government's anti-corruption work.

We continue to encourage the Kenyan Government to give its full and undivided support to the country's anti-corruption institutions.

Macedonia

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement
 
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of the inclusion of Title 8710, tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles and parts, in the Communities/Macedonia Protocol set out in Official Journal L388 volume 47 of 29 December 2004. [216446]

Mr. MacShane: The inclusion of Title 8710, tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles and parts in the Communities/Macedonia Protocol set out in Official Journal L388 volume 47 of 29 December 2004 has no particular significance. Protocols of this nature are based on the internationally agreed system of classification known as the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System of the Customs Co-operation Council.

This nomenclature provides a systematic classification for all goods in international trade.

Nepal

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what proportion of Global Conflict Prevention Pool allocations to Nepal in the last three year has been spent on aircraft; [217319]

(2) what proportion of the Global Conflict Prevention Pool since its inception has gone on direct assistance to the Nepalese army. [217322]

Mr. Alexander [holding answer 21 February 2005]: We have requested figures from the Ministry of Defence to allow us to reply on the points raised in this question. I will write to my hon. Friend with this information once it has been received.

Shipping Lines

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's spending was in each of the last two years with the shipping lines (a) P&O, (b) Nippin Yusen Kaisha, (c) Mitsui Osaka Shosen Kaisha, (d) Orient Overseas Container Line and (e) Mediterranean Shipping Corporation. [217317]

Mr. Rammell: All shipping is arranged by contractors. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Services does not have any direct expenditure with the shipping lines cited. Identifiable expenditure for calendar years 2003–04 is shown in the following table. Substantial value is not attributable as much freight moves as part of consolidated loads. It is not possible to segregate the annual expenditure.

	£
(a) P&O	95,248.06
(b) Nippin Yusen Kaisha	0
(c) Mitsui Osaka Shosen Kaisha	0
(d) Orient Overseas Container Line	2,461.62
(e) Mediterranean Shipping Corporation	41,973.51

Taiwan

Mr. Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of Taiwan's trade relationship with China; and if he will make a statement. [217138]

 
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Mr. Rammell: Taiwan and mainland China are important trading partners. Collectively mainland China and Hong Kong are Taiwan's leading trading partner (24 per cent. of total trade) followed by Japan (16.6 per cent.) and the US (14.6 per cent.). Taiwan's exports to Hong Kong and mainland China for January to November 2004 were US$58.6 billion (up 30.8 per cent. on the corresponding period of 2003). Taiwan's imports from Hong Kong and mainland China for January to November 2004 were US$16.8 billion (up 49.4 per cent. on the corresponding period of 2003).

Uganda

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to (a) develop a relationship with the Ugandan opposition party the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and (b) meet the FDC leader Mr. Kizza Besigye. [216915]

Mr. Mullin: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials in London and Kampala are in regular contact with the FDC leadership and already have a productive working relationship.

I met current members of FDC during my visit to Uganda last year. Their recently-elected interim chairman, Kizza Besigye, is currently in exile in South Africa. I have not yet had an opportunity to meet him.

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the attempt by the President of Uganda to amend the Ugandan Constitution in order to secure a further term of office. [216917]

Mr. Mullin: I raised this with President Museveni during my visit to Uganda in August and expressed concern at the direction of Uganda's political transition process.

We continue to urge the Government of Uganda to ensure that political change follows the constitution, respects the rule of law and institutions of governance, and is free from physical intimidation or manipulation.

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards a pluralistic civil society in Uganda. [217076]

Mr. Mullin: Progress towards pluralism in Uganda has been slow. I raised our concerns with President Museveni during my visit to Uganda in August and stressed that the process of political change needs to carry the confidence of the Ugandan people and Parliament.

We continue to urge the Government of Uganda to ensure that the process of transition follows the constitution, respects the rule of law and institutions of governance, and is free from physical intimidation or manipulation.

US Foreign Policy

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his
 
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Department has made to assist those seeking to liberate themselves from tyranny and to build democracy" as requested by the US Secretary of State on 8 February; and if he will make a statement. [216326]

Mr. Rammell: The promotion of democracy, alongside human rights, the rule of law and good governance is a thread which runs through all of the Government's foreign policy. These issues are mainstreamed throughout everything the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does. At the strategic level, this is highlighted by two of the FCO's eight strategic priorities aiming to support the development of democracy and the rule of law (Strategic Priority 3: An international system based on the rule of law, which is better able to resolve disputes and prevent conflicts; and Strategic Priority 6: Sustainable Development, underpinned by democracy, good governance and human rights).

At an operational level we adapt our approach onthese issues to reflect the situation in the countries inwhich we work. This might range from; what might be considered traditional diplomatic measures (e.g.advocacy; resolutions in international fora; or sanctions); it may mean technical capacity building to support an emerging democratic culture in a country with no history of participatory government; or it may mean working in partnership with more established democracies to reinforce democracy in third countries, or to improve transparency and accountability throughout the international system. We also promote democracy, human rights, the rule of law and good governance in international fora, and press countries to adhere to the commitments they've signed up to in these bodies.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Character Evidence

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs on how many occasions bad character evidence of a defendant has been allowed in evidence since the coming into force of section 101 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003; and on how many of these occasions bad character evidence has been allowed in evidence following a decision of the court. [216790]

Mr. Lammy: The information requested is not held centrally.

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