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30 Jun 2005 : Column 1735W—continued
Computer Crime
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many cases of computer (a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft his Department recorded in each year since 2001–02; and for each year on how many occasions computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (i)within and (ii) outside his Department. [6948]
Mr. Straw:
There is no evidence of any successful hacking attacks being mounted against the Foreign and Commonwealth Office since 2002 nor is there any evidence of computer based fraud.
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Details of recorded thefts of computers are as follows:
| Laptops | Personal computers | |
|---|---|---|
| 2001–02(16) | — | — |
| 2002–03 | 4 | 0 |
| 2003–04 | 2 | 0 |
| 2004–05 | 3 | 2 |
(16)No records exist for this period
Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will answer the letter dated 29 April from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr Y Abbas. [7886]
Dr. Howells: A reply to my right hon. Friend was sent on 12 May 2005.
Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood on visas dated 21 February 2005 regarding a family reunion for Mr. B. Sargainell. [7970]
Dr. Howells: UKvisas have contacted my right hon. Friend with regard to this case, which is a matter for the Home Office.
European Convention on Human Rights
Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the European Convention on Human Rights for the Government's policy on the provision of information to overseas prosecuting authorities in cases which would lead to the imposition of the death penalty. [7843]
Mr. Douglas Alexander [holding answer 28 June 2005]: The opposition of the Government to the death penalty is well known. When deciding whether to provide information to prosecuting authorities abroad the Government takes all relevant factors into account, including the possibility of the death penalty being imposed and our international obligations. Our view is that this policy is in line with the obligations of the UK under the European Convention on Human Rights.
Middle East
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with other members of the Quartet about monitoring Israeli withdrawal from the specified settlements in the northern West Bank; which areas are included in this withdrawal; what the timescale is; how the land evacuated will be returned to Palestinian control; and what compensation has been agreed for the former Palestinian landowners for damage incurred. [8052]
Dr. Howells:
Quartet (UN, US, EU and Russia) discussions on Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and part of the West Bank are ongoing. Most recently, Quartet Principals, along with Quartet Special Envoy for Disengagement James Wolfensohn and US Security
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Co-ordinator General Ward, met in London on 23 June to discuss these issues, prior to further discussion at the G8 Foreign Ministers Meeting.
The Quartet discussions continue to focus on the geographical areas to be included in the withdrawal, the timescale for withdrawal and how the areas will be returned to Palestinian control. These are also subject to close discussion with and between the parties, assisted by Mr. Wolfensohn. Compensation for former Palestinian landowners has not been agreed at this stage.
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with other G8 Foreign Ministers about independent monitoring of Israeli and Palestinian authorities' compliance with commitments during the Gaza withdrawal; and what mechanisms have been put in place. [8053]
Dr. Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary hosted a meeting of G8 Foreign Ministers in London on 23 June. Quartet Special Envoy for Disengagement, James Wolfensohn, and US Security Co-ordinator, General William Ward, also attended to discuss the Middle East peace process and Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank. James Wolfensohn set out his plans for assisting disengagement, including to help both parties implement the actions required of them, to encourage them to co-ordinate fully with each other and for the international community to support Palestinian economic and institutional development. G8 Foreign Ministers offered support and appreciation for his work.
Radiological Weapons (Public Education)
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken in response to the recommendation of the Report of the UN Secretary General's High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, A more secure world: Our shared responsibility, that the public should be educated on the consequences of radiological weapons. [7371]
Dr. Howells: The Government take seriously their responsibility to prepare the public for emergencies, but is careful not to raise the profile of any specific risk disproportionately. General guidance on the steps the public can take to prepare for, and respond to, any major emergency is available on the preparing for emergencies website: (wwvv.preparingforemergencies.gov.uk). More detailed information is also available on the effects of radiological material at: (www.mi5.gov.uk. and wmv.hpa.org.uk).
The emergency services will always issue specific advice at the time of an incident, including any incident involving release of a radiological material.
Russia
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) he and (b) his Department has made representations to the Russian Foreign Minister on issues relating to the ratification of Protocol 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. [7709]
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Mr. Douglas Alexander: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is actively engaged in a bilateral human rights dialogue with the Russian Government. We have raised Protocol 6 as part of this dialogue. The last round of the dialogue was held in Moscow on 23 May 2005.
We are also engaged, with our European partners, in bi-annual EU-Russia human rights consultations. The first session of consultations took place in Luxembourg on 1 March 2005. Again we raised the implementation in Russia of Protocol 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The next round of consultations is scheduled to take place under the UK presidency of the EU on 8 September 2005. We fully expect discussion of Protocol 6 to feature during these consultations.
In addition to this, staff at our embassy in Moscow continue to raise our concerns with their interlocutors in the Russian Government, including with official institutions in Russia that exist to protect and promote human rights.
Weapons in Space
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the UK Government policy on the US Administration's intention to base weapons in space. [7816]
Mr. Straw: We are not aware of any US Administration plans to deploy weapons in space.
Work-related Stress
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his Department in each of the last three years; how much compensation was paid to employees in each year; how many work days were lost due to work-related stress in each year; at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress; at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [7863]
Mr. Straw: My Department does not currently keep statistics on reported cases of work-related stress or on work-related stress as a sickness absence type. No compensation has been paid to employees because of work-related stress in the past three years. All Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff, and dependants overseas, can discuss work-related and personal concerns in confidence with a trained welfare officer. Since March 2002, the FCO has also provided a confidential counselling and advice service to staff both in the UK and overseas, and to dependants overseas, through an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). Work-related stress is one of the issues for which the EAP can provide counselling and support. The cost is approximately £58,000 per annum.
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