| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
24 Mar 2005 : Column 985W—continued
Bolivia
Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of (a) the prospects for regional autonomy in Bolivia's provinces and (b) the impact of such autonomy on the country's long-term territorial integrity. [223326]
Mr. Alexander: We understand that a referendum on regional autonomy and the election of departmental prefects may take place later in the year. We hope this will strengthen national cohesion.
Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of recent political instability in Bolivia; and if he will make a statement. [223327]
Mr. Alexander: We are following closely political developments in Bolivia. We hope that all concerned in Bolivia will work constructively to find lasting solutions to the challenges facing the country within a democratic and constitutional framework.
Burma
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what political progress in Burma would be required to enable the UK Government to attend EU-ASEAN meetings chaired by Burma in 2006–07. [223423]
Mr. Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Redcar (Vera Baird) on 22 March 2005, Official Report, columns 797–98W.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations for the inclusion of the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise within investment sanctions provisions under the EU common position on Burma. [223425]
Mr. Alexander: The UK led EU efforts in October 2004 to strengthen the measures in the common position in light of the political situation in Burma.
All aspects of the common position have to be agreed by all 25 member states. There is no consensus at present for the inclusion of Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from Burmese citizens in the UK about having to pay a percentage of their income to the Burmese embassy in London. [223427]
Mr. Alexander:
None.
24 Mar 2005 : Column 986W
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether German manufactured motor engines have been used in Ukrainian armoured personnel carriers supplied to Burma. [223471]
Mr. Alexander: We are not aware of this and have therefore not made any assessment. However, we and our EU partners have raised our concerns with the Ukrainian authorities about the provision of military items to Burma. Although Ukraine is not party to the arms embargo that forms part of the EU common position on Burma, we will continue to make them aware of our position and encourage them to align themselves with it.
China
Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of China's anti-secession law; and if he will make a statement. [223324]
Mr. Alexander: Anti-secession legislation, passed by China's National People's Congress, on 14 March, is largely a codification of China's long-held position regarding Taiwan. The impact of the legislation will depend on the reaction of others and how China seeks to apply it.
Although China has stressed its desire for a peaceful resolution of the issue, we are concerned that the legislation makes reference to the possibility of the use of non-peaceful means". We are strongly opposed to the use of force.
We and others in the international community remain concerned about regional stability. We continue to appeal to both sides to avoid unilateral measures which might heighten tensions.
Our view is still that the Taiwan question should be settled peacefully through negotiation between the people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits. We believe that the continuation of dialogue over practical measures and the search for pragmatic solutions to differences will bring benefits to both sides and contribute towards a peaceful resolution of the issue.
Death Penalty
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government made to the recent round table conference on the death penalty held in Zagreb. [222988]
Mr. MacShane: The UK was not represented at this round table conference and did not make any representations to it.
Departmental Budget
Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the planned (a) capital and (b) resource budget for his Department is for 2011–12. [223433]
Mr. Alexander:
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not have a financial plan for 2011–12. Budgets from the most recent spending round cover the period up to financial year 2007–08.
24 Mar 2005 : Column 987W
Diplomatic Posts
Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British diplomatic posts were (a) gained and (b) lost during calendar year 2004 to the personnel establishments of UK Missions in (i) Council of Europe member states including international bodies of which the UK is a member located in Europe, (ii) Africa and (iii) Latin America including Belize and the Dominican Republic. [217755]
Mr. Alexander [holding answer 24 February 2005]: The introduction of a new IT system means that information is not available from the start of calendar year 2004. New data from this system are also not completely comparable with the previous arrangement.
Subject to this caveat, the changes in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's personnel establishments between October 2003 and December 2004 in the areas in question were as follows:
(i) Council of Europe member states including international bodies of which the UK is a member located in Europe. Plus 25.
Eritrea
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has made to the Eritrean Government concerning the arrest of (a) Roman Catholics in Asmara on 9 January, (b) evangelical Christians on 9 January, (c) members of the Kale Hiwot church on 9 January, (d) evangelical Christians on 21 January and (e) Orthodox priests in November 2004; [222504]
(2) what assessment he has made of the extent of persecutions of officially allowed denominations in Eritrea; [222505]
(3) what representations he has made to the Eritrean Government concerning (a) reports of a task force appointed by the Eritrean Government to persecute Pentecostal and Evangelical Christians, (b) the arrest of Christian women on 12 February, (c) the arrest of Professor Senere Zaid on 3 February, (d) the arrest of members of the Kale Hiwot Church in di-Tekelzan on 4 February and (e) the reported intimidation and harassment of those renting their premises to Christians from forbidden denominations. [222506]
Mr. Mullin: We remain concerned at reports of the arrest and detention of members of all religious groups in Eritrea.
We raise these concerns with the Eritrean Government regularly and were able to raise these recent reports with the Eritrean ambassador in London on 16 March. Our ambassador in Asmara has also followed up these cases during his meetings with senior Eritrean officials last week. We will continue to make clear our concern.
24 Mar 2005 : Column 988W
Estonia
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions have been given to the UK embassy in Tallinn in relation to (a) support for and (b) dealings with Scotland House. [220303]
Mr. Mullin: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 9 March 2005, Official Report, columns 1891–92W.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |