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Departmental Staff (Qualifications)

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of new recruits to his Department do not have a level 2 qualification in English and mathematics. [23776]

Mr. Straw: All entry points into the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, save one, require candidates to have a minimum of a level 2 in English and Mathematics. The exception is for new recruits at Administrative Assistant level who are required to have a minimum of GCSE grade A*-C (or equivalent) in English Language. An educational qualification in Mathematics is not required, although numeracy is tested during ability tests.

In 2005–06, 65 candidates have been successful at Administrative Assistant level, subject to pre-appointment checks. Of these 65 candidates, 22 do not have the equivalent of a level 2 in Mathematics.

European Constitution

Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made (a) to the European Commission and (b) to other EU member states on the inclusion of a €6 million provision in next year's EU budget for promoting the European Constitution. [26242]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: The European Commission has requested a further €6 million from the EU budget to support work on the Future of Europe debate. The EU's budget for 2006 must be agreed between the European Council and the European Parliament. The Commission initiated this process by proposing a Preliminary Draft Budget, which was amended by the Council in its first reading on 15 July to form the Draft Budget. The European Parliament agreed its own amendments to the Draft Budget on 27 October, and the Council will conclude its second reading on 24 November. The budget will then go back to the European Parliament, hopefully for approval at its plenary on 13–15 December. In this context, the UK has worked closely with other member states to find agreement on the 2006 budget, but no member state has yet made any specific representations on the €6 million requested by the European Commission to support work on the Future of Europe debate.

European Union Border Controls

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will visit the new eastern border of the EU to see the border controls in place to protect the EU from illegal immigration. [25338]

 
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Mr. Douglas Alexander: The UK co-operates closely with all EU member states on measures to strengthen the external borders, including those responsible for managing the new Eastern border. We fully support the aims and objectives of Frontex, the new European Border Agency based in Warsaw, to which we have seconded two UK officials. This will ensure more structured and effective co-operation between member states. We also work bilaterally and through the EU with accession, candidate and third countries to strengthen their border management capacity, including through ministerial visits when necessary.

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans at present to visit the Eastern border.

European Union Budget

Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress towards agreeing a budget for the European Union under the United Kingdom's presidency. [24455]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to the House on 1 November 2005, Official Report, columns 707–09.

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to ask his French counterpart to increase that country's budget contributions to the EU. [25329]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 1 November 2005, Official Report, columns 707–09. The Foreign Secretary made clear that we speak regularly to our French counterparts, as we do with all EU member states, on the way to take forward the future financing negotiations.

G8 Summit (Gleneagles)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total cost to public funds was of hosting the G8 summit at Gleneagles. [25832]

Ian Pearson: An estimate for the organisational costs of the G8 summit of £12.1 million has been made available on the G8 website at www.g8.gov.uk. A breakdown of this figure is nearly ready for publication. The process has been delayed to allow some suppliers to submit final invoices.

These details will be placed in the Library of the House, before also being made available on the G8 website.

Securing the Gleneagles summit was the responsibility of the Devolved Administration and I understand that Scottish Ministers are separately preparing to release details of these costs.
 
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Ireland

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which of the bilateral treaties, conventions, agreements and similar instruments made between the United Kingdom and Ireland from 1921 to date are still in force. [24739]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: The United Kingdom has entered into 66 bilateral treaties with Ireland since 1 January 1921. Five of those treaties have been expressly terminated leaving 61 still in force. A list of the treaties concerned has been placed in the Library of the House.

Pakistan

Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on human rights in Pakistan. [25340]

Dr. Howells: We remain concerned by the human rights situation in Pakistan and we continue to raise these concerns with the Government of Pakistan, both bilaterally and through the European Union. We believe that doing this through the collective voice of the European Union is the most effective way of expressing these concerns.

Tibet

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Chinese Government on the arrest of (a) Sonam Gyalpo from Lhasa and (b) four monks from the Labrang Tashikyil Monastery in the Gansu Province of Tibet; and if he will make a statement. [24204]

Ian Pearson: The Government are very concerned about Tibetans who find themselves in prison for actions which we consider to be the peaceful expression of political, cultural, and religious rights. We have made representations on behalf of many such prisoners over the years and will continue to do so. The Government will look to raise specific cases of concern brought to our attention by non-governmental organisations at appropriate opportunities. A number of Tibetan prisoners were raised as part of the EU China Human Rights Dialogue held on 24 October in Beijing.

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the lifting of embargoes on the Turkish Republic of northern Cyprus. [24831]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: There are no actual embargoes in force against north Cyprus, but the lack of a settlement of the Cyprus problem and the suspension of the EU acquis in the north do make many issues, including trade, more difficult.

The Government strongly supports the EU's commitment, set out at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 26 April 2004, to end the isolation
 
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of the Turkish Cypriot community and facilitate the reunification of Cyprus by encouraging the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community. We will continue our efforts during our Presidency of the EU in working with the European Commission and member states towards achieving this aim.

Uganda

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the outcome of the referendum in Uganda in July. [24434]

Ian Pearson: The UK issued a statement on 5 August, on behalf of the European Union, following the 28 July referendum on the political transition in Uganda. The statement welcomed the decision of the Ugandan people to endorse the re-introduction of a multi-party political system. This represents a significant step forward for democratic accountability in Uganda.

Uganda now needs to ensure that the necessary legislation for multi-party politics is in place well before the elections in February or March 2006. The ruling Movement party and in particular its Secretariat should also be fully separated from the state.
 
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Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards a resolution to the conflict in Northern Uganda. [24436]

Ian Pearson: The UK remains concerned at the continuation of the 19 year conflict in Northern Uganda and the serious humanitarian situation for the more than 1.4 million people still living in camps for internally displaced people.

The UK continues to call on the Government of Uganda to ensure that all of its citizens are protected and provided for. A recent upsurge in violent attacks in northern Uganda has led to the UN and other humanitarian organisations suspending field missions. This is a matter of grave concern.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) unsealed its first warrants on 13 October for the arrest of five Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) commanders. The UK is a strong supporter of the work of the ICC and calls on all those involved to work to facilitate the arrest of the individuals subject to the warrants. The UK is encouraging Uganda to work hard to encourage all members of the LRA, not subject to ICC or national arrest warrants, to seek amnesty, reconciliation and reintegration into their communities.
 
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