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Unsolicited Phone Calls

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action her Department is taking to tackle UK-based organisations using a non-EU company to make unsolicited automated phone calls which would be illegal if made from within the EU. [222410]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Department introduced the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations in 1999, which provides a scheme called the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) scheme. This provides protection to subscribers from unsolicited direct marketing calls, which originate from the UK or are made on behalf of UK companies by non-EU companies, irrespective of whether they are dialled manually or made by an automated computer. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has responsibility for the enforcement of the TPS scheme and considers breaches.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Burma

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Government of Myanmar about the conditions of the Karen people of Myanmar in refugee camps on the Thai border. [221705]

Mr. MacShane: We have not made recent representations to the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) about this specific issue. However, we work closely with the Office of the United Nations High
 
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Commissioner for Refugees to provide appropriate protection to refugees and to ensure their non-refoulement.

Britain is the largest EU donor providing assistance to refugees outside the country and to poor people inside Burma. Our funds are channelled through non-government organisations such as the Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) as well as through UN agencies and the European Commission. The TBBC provides food and other basic necessities to the Karen refugees in Thailand. This complements the help with schooling given by the Karen Education Partnership.

We are also doing everything we can to press the Burmese authorities to begin a genuine process of reform involving all political parties and ethnic groups in Burma. A genuine transition to democracy is essential to address the underlying reasons for the displacement of people in Burma.

The UK co-sponsored the UN General Assembly resolution of 23 December which condemned human rights violations suffered by ethnic groups in Burma. The resolution called on the regime to

"end the policy of systematic enforced displacement of persons and other policies leading to displacement within Myanmar and refugee flows to neighbouring countries, to provide the necessary protection and assistance to internally displaced persons and to respect the right of refugees to voluntary, safe and dignified return monitored by appropriate international agencies."

Mr. Luke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Ukrainian ambassador on sales of arms to Burma. [222142]

Mr. MacShane: None.

However, we and our EU partners have raised our concerns with the Ukrainian authorities about the sale of arms to Burma.

The UK and other EU countries maintain an embargo on arms to Burma as part of the EU Common Position on Burma. Although Ukraine is not party to this, we will continue to make them aware of our position and encourage them to align themselves with it.

Burundi

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the new power-sharing constitution in Burundi. [221596]

Mr. MacShane: We welcome the post-transitional Constitution in Burundi, approved by the Regional Peace initiative, and resoundingly endorsed by the Burundian people at the referendum held on 28 February. This is a further step on the path to lasting peace and stability in Burundi.

We and the rest of the international community now urge all parties in Burundi to work constructively towards holding free and fair elections and bringing about a successful end to the transition.
 
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Cuba

Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the UK delegation's position on Cuba will be at the forthcoming UN Human Rights Commission. [221789]

Mr. Rammell: We have serious concerns about the human rights situation in Cuba. We have not yet seen a text on Cuba at the Commission on Human Rights and therefore can not confirm our position. However in previous years, the UK has supported a resolution on Cuba.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions he has had with the Turkish-Cypriot administration on the number of private properties built in each of the last three years in Northern Cyprus which were purchased by foreign nationals who are neither Greek or Turkish Cypriot; and if he will make a statement; [221547]

(2) what discussions he has had on the policy of the Turkish-Cypriot administration in Northern Cyprus on maintaining in good condition the properties that Turkish settlers now live in but to which Greek Cypriots claim ownership; and if he will make a statement. [221571]

Mr. MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I met Mr. Talat on 1 July 2004; I also met Mr. Talat and other Turkish Cypriot leaders during my visit to the island in October 2004. On both occasions we discussed a number of Cyprus-related issues. Officials from the British high commission also meet Turkish Cypriot leaders on a regular basis to discuss a full range of issues on the situation in Cyprus, including that of property purchase by foreigners. Through our travel advice and in response to inquiries, we advise potential purchasers of property in the north that there may be significant practical, financial and legal consequences, and we strongly encourage potential buyers to seek independent, qualified legal advice.

The issue of the condition of properties likely to be affected by the resettlement and compensation provisions of the Annan plan was studied during the "needs assessment" phase of the UN process, with the close support and interest of the UK Government.

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of properties in Northern Cyprus legally owned by Greek Cypriots which are occupied by Turkish settlers from mainland Turkey; and if he will make a statement. [221550]

Mr. MacShane: We have no figures on this aspect of the property issue. As the Foreign Affairs Committee has recently underscored, the complex and deeply felt issues associated with property ownership go to the heart of the situation in Cyprus, and deserve very careful attention within the context of a comprehensive settlement.

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when the last population survey took place in Northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement; [221551]
 
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(2) how many (a) Turkish Cypriots born in Cyprus and (b) Turkish settlers he estimates there are in Northern Cyprus; what percentage each represents of the total population; and if he will make a statement. [221552]

Mr. MacShane: The last census in the north of Cyprus carried out by the Turkish Cypriot authorities in 1996 found that there were 137,398 Turkish Cypriots and 54,626 people born in mainland Turkey. However, these figures are not universally accepted. The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly adopted a resolution in 2003 stating that there were 115,000 persons of Turkish mainland origin in the north of Cyprus. The Assembly also noted that in 2001 there were 87,600 Turkish Cypriots in the north of Cyprus. The Assembly's figures too are disputed.

We believe that the population composition in the north of Cyprus will likely be an important factor in any new settlement negotiations. In that context, universally agreed figures on the demographics of the north would clearly be desirable. But it is for the two sides, in the context of renewed efforts towards achieving a settlement, and in conjunction with the United Nations, to discuss the most appropriate way to deal with demographic issues pertaining to the situation in Cyprus.

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Turkish troops are stationed in Northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [221553]

Mr. MacShane: We have no precise figures of our own. Current estimates range from 20,000 to 35,000.

Turkey supported the UN Secretary-General's Comprehensive Settlement Plan for Cyprus, which provided for a staged reduction in troop numbers. If the island had reunited on the basis of the plan, Turkish troops would have been reduced by over 80 per cent. by the end of 2007, with a further 50 per cent. reduction within the following four years. Thereafter, the plan allowed for 650 troops to remain in the north of Cyprus, the same number of Turkish troops as set out in the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee. This agreement would be subject to regular reviews with a view to eventual withdrawal by mutual consent.

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what recent discussions he has had with the Turkish Cypriot administration in Northern Cyprus on its policies to protect and develop the environment; [221573]

(2) what recent discussions he has had with the Turkish Cypriot administration on its policy on Greek Cypriots who wish to return to live in Northern Cyprus being able to do so; and if he will make a statement. [221575]

Mr. MacShane: Neither my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary nor myself have had recent discussions with the Turkish Cypriot administration on these matters. However, officials from the British high
 
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commission in Nicosia meet regularly with Turkish Cypriot representatives to discuss the full range of issues related to the situation in Cyprus. One feature of these discussions is the need to improve environmental protection including by use of EU funds in this area.

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