---

9 Mar 2005 : Column 1886W—continued

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which dates during December 2003 the UK special representative in Iraq was acting Coalition Provisional Authority administrator. [212313]

 
9 Mar 2005 : Column 1887W
 

Mr. Rammell: Whenever ambassador Bremer, Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Administrator, was absent from Iraq, his US deputy took charge and made decisions on his behalf. In May 2003, the UK Government appointed a UK Special Representative for Iraq to work alongside ambassador Bremer, but as an independent presence with no formal role within the CPA's hierarchy and with no formal legal decision-making power. However, from 23 to 30 December 2003, when both ambassador Bremer and his deputy were absent from Iraq, the UK Special Representative looked after CPA affairs. There were neither policy decisions made about Iraq, nor orders signed during this period.

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his written ministerial statement of 22 February 2005, Official Report, column 13WS, on British Detainees (Iraq), what the (a) name, (b) age and (c) date of arrest is of the British national held at the Shaibah detention centre in Iraq. [218573]

Mr. Mullin: The British national held at Shaibah detention centre in Iraq was detained on 9 October 2004.

It would not be appropriate to release the details requested without the consent of the detainee.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made regarding the Kurdistan Democratic Party's blocking of the delivery of ballot boxes to ChaldoAssyrian towns and villages in northern Iraq, during the 30 January national elections; what assessment he has made of the number of electors prevented from voting; and if he will make a statement. [219721]

Mr. Mullin: We are aware of this allegation. A complaint was submitted to the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI), the body responsible for investigating alleged irregularities in the 30 January elections in Iraq. The IECI is investigating all official complaints it has received. Once its investigations are completed, the IECI will write to each complainant with its findings, and will publish a report detailing all the complaints they received and its response to them.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent attacks by Kurdistan Democratic Party militiamen against Chaldo-Assyrians in northern Iraq. [219730]

Mr. Mullin: We are aware of allegations of attacks by members of the Kurdistan Democratic Party against Chaldo-Assyrians in northern Iraq. Our Consul General in Kirkuk raised the issue with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) last week. All denied that such acts have taken place. The KRG currently have a number of resettlement projects in Iraqi Kurdistan, which includes bringing Christians from places like Baghdad and Basra to settle in the safer areas of Iraqi Kurdistan.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on the UK Muslim community of his policy in relation to Iraq. [220606]

 
9 Mar 2005 : Column 1888W
 

Mr. Mullin [holding answer 7 March 2005]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is aware of the concerns of some of the British Muslim community about the decision to take military action in Iraq. The Government have a continuing and extensive dialogue with a wide range of Muslim organisations in the UK on a number of issues, including Iraq.

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the position of the Government is on the acceptance by the Government of Canada of the principle that the issue of the legality of the Iraq war should be brought before the International Court of Justice. [220814]

Mr. Alexander: Our understanding is that the Canadian Government have not advocated seeking a ruling from the International Court of Justice on the legality of the war in Iraq.

Northern Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Turkish administration in Northern Cyprus on the number of people from Turkey moving to live in Northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [219513]

Mr. Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions recently, either with Turkey or representatives of the Turkish Cypriot Community, about the number of people moving from Turkey to north Cyprus. However our senior officials maintain an open dialogue with the leadership of the Turkish Cypriots on all aspects of the situation in Cyprus.

The Government maintain their long-standing position of non-recognition of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus".

Occupational Health Contract

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which external consultant advised his Department on the preferred bidder for the contract for occupational health formerly held by Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital Trust. [219417]

Mr. Alexander: Mercer HR Consulting were engaged by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to help in reviewing the FCO's healthcare needs and to assist in the development of a specification for a contract to meet these needs in the most cost effective way. Evaluation of tender bids was carried out by a tender panel consisting of FCO officers and Mercer HR Consulting.

Pakistan

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to improve the visa operation in Pakistan. [220097]

Mr. Mullin: We have worked hard to improve the visa service in Pakistan since it was closed due to security concerns in May 2002. There are now 49 visa officers in Islamabad and an additional ten officers will be posted to Islamabad in April 2005. In Karachi we have
 
9 Mar 2005 : Column 1889W
 
reopened the visa office with 3.5 staff and will shortly be posting a further two officers there. We have also outsourced the application procedure to Gerry's Fedex (a local joint venture with Federal Express) to remove the need for every application to be lodged at the high commission in person. We now accept visa applications from all categories except working holidaymakers and first time visitors under 25. We are in discussions with the Pakistani authorities about putting in place the necessary conditions to restore a full service as soon as possible.

People's Redemption Army

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of recent activities of the People's Redemption Army. [219548]

Mr. Mullin: The Ugandan Government have alleged that the People's Redemption Army (PRA) is an armed group which has been attempting to establish a network in north-western Uganda. We have seen no evidence of this or that the PRA represents any significant threat to Uganda's stability.

Peru

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Peruvian authorities concerning the imprisonment of the trade union activist Walter Cubas Baltazar. [219710]

Mr. Rammell: Our embassy in Lima has been regularly monitoring the case of Walter Cubas Baltazar. Mr. Baltazar has made the decision not to appeal against the sentence made by the National Terrorism Court on 29 December 2004.

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Peruvian authorities concerning the death threats made against Christina Olazabal, the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights in the Province of Ayacucho, Peru. [219711]

Mr. Rammell: On 2 March, officials at our embassy in Lima spoke to the Peruvian authorities in Ayacucho about reports of alleged threats made against the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights in Ayacucho. The Human Rights Ombudsman in Ayacucho is aware of these reports. The Special Prosecutor has not raised this matter with the Human Rights Ombudsman in Ayacucho.

---