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7 Dec 2005 : Column 1388W—continued
Departmental Staff
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) consultants and (b) special advisers were employed by his Department in each year since 1997; what the cost of each was in each year; and if he will make a statement. [27410]
Mr. Straw: The numbers of special advisers employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) since 1997 are set out in the following table. We are not able to release personal information on individual remuneration, but all have been employed within the authorised salary scales for special advisers.
| Financial year | Number |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 1 |
| 1998–99 | 0 |
| 1999–2000 | 1 |
| 2000–01 | 1 |
| 2001–02 | 2 |
| 2002–03 | 2 |
| 2003–04 | 2 |
| 2004–05 | 2 |
The number of consultants working for the FCO is not held centrally. I refer the hon. member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Martin Horwood) on 22 November 2005, Official Report, column 1897W for information on costs.
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End-use Monitoring
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had (a) with US counterparts regarding end-use monitoring of the State Department Blue Lantern programme and the Department of Defence Golden Sentry programme and (b) EU counterparts regarding an EU-wide verification system of end-use monitoring. [34177]
Dr. Howells: Representatives of the United States Government have made presentations on both the Blue Lantern and Golden Sentry programmes to the relevant EU working parties, who found the presentations informative. EU member states each have their own policy and procedures on end-user checks and have not reached any collective conclusions on the applicability, or otherwise, of these or similar programmes to existing national arrangements.
Equal Opportunities
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2005, Official Report, columns 1584–85W, on equal opportunities, if he will make a statement on the development of role models. [34392]
Ian Pearson: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) recognise the importance of role models, especially for staff from under-represented groups. Current activities aimed at highlighting and developing role models in the FCO include:
However, the FCO encourage staff to drive their own careers, and recognises that some members of under-represented groups may not wish to be high profile role models.
Ethiopia/Eritrea
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of (a) human rights and (b) governance in Ethiopia; and if he will make a statement. [34059]
Ian Pearson: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office assessment of and actions to promote human rights in Ethiopia are set out in our Annual Report on Human Rights, which was presented to Parliament in July 2005.
Since then, we have been gravely concerned and saddened by the post-election events in Ethiopia. We condemned in particular the use of live ammunition by security forces to quell demonstrations, which resulted in many deaths and injuries, and the arrest of Opposition leaders. We have urged that these events be investigated fully and impartially and that those arrested be charged and tried fairly or released. We have urged both the
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Government and Opposition in Ethiopia to reconcile their differences and create an effective Parliament as the principal forum for political debate in Ethiopia. We continue to monitor the situation closely.
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Ethiopian Government concerning the killing of 46 demonstrators by security forces in the first week of November; and if he will make a statement. [34060]
Ian Pearson: My noble Friend, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, summoned the Ethiopian Charge d'Affaires on 1 November to register our concerns about the situation in Ethiopia. On 6 November, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development also raised the issue when he spoke to Prime Minister Meles. On 6 November, in our capacity as EU presidency, we also issued a statement on the situation in Ethiopia. Our ambassador in Ethiopia has also raised our concerns with Prime Minister Meles, the Ethiopian Foreign Minister and other Government Ministers. We continue to raise our concerns at every suitable opportunity.
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Ethiopian Government following the detention without charge of (a) Hailu Shawel, (b) Professor Mesfin Woldemariam, (c) Dr. Yacob Hailemarian, (d) Ms Birtukan Mideksa, (e) Dr. Berhanu Negga and (f) others; what representations he has made about the possibility that they will be charged with treason following demonstrations in Addis Ababa; and if he will make a statement. [34061]
Ian Pearson: My noble Friend, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, summoned the Ethiopian Charge d'Affaires on 1 November to register our concerns about the situation in Ethiopia, including the issue of detainees. On 6 November, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development also raised the issue when he spoke to Prime Minister Meles. On 6 November, in our capacity as EU presidency, we also issued a statement on the situation in Ethiopia, which included reference to our concerns regarding detainees. Our ambassador in Ethiopia has also raised our concerns with Prime Minister Meles, the Ethiopian Foreign Minister and other Government Ministers. We continue to call for the immediate release of all political detainees, for those individuals not charged under due process to be released immediately, and for access to those detained for their families, legal counsel and representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross or other appropriate representatives of the international community.
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Ethiopian and Eritrean Governments concerning tensions along their mutual border; and if he will make a statement. [34058]
Ian Pearson:
We remain very concerned about the current situation. Ministers and senior officials have regularly raised this with the Governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia. Most recently, my noble Friend, the Foreign
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and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, raised the issue with the Eritrean ambassador on 18 October. He will also raise the issue with the Ethiopian ambassador on 6 December. In our capacity as EU presidency, Lord Triesman intends to visit the region later this month and will make further representations during that visit. In the Security Council, we supported United Nations Security Council Resolution l640 (2005) adopted on 23 November, which expressed concern about developments at the border and outlined the way forward.
Falkland Islands
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to encourage more flights to Mount Pleasant airport in the Falkland Islands. [33863]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: External air links with the Falkland Islands currently consist of a weekly flight ran by LAN Chile between Santiago and Mount Pleasant airport, and the airbridge ran three times every fortnight by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) between Mount Pleasant and RAF Brize Norton via Ascension Island.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and MOD officials keep air links between the Falkland Islands and the UK under review. The FCO hopes to explore alternative options for flights with the Government of the Falkland Islands soon.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to promote tourism to the Falkland Islands. [33865]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: Falkland Islands Tourist Board is actively promoting the Falklands as a cruise and land based visitor destination. This is done by representation at international travel fairs and by direct promotion with international tourism companies. This is reflected in the numbers of approximately 40,000 cruise visitors and 1,000 land based visitors who are expected for the coming season.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the drilling for oil and gas around the Falkland Islands. [33866]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: Exploration for offshore hydrocarbons is currently being undertaken by companies holding licences issued by the Falkland Islands Government, in areas to the north and the south east of the Falkland Islands. Exploration is at an early stage and has not yet led to any commercial discoveries, but seismic surveys are underway with a view to exploratory drilling in due course. The Government are fully committed to the offshore prospecting policy pursued by the Falkland Islands Government, which is entirely consistent with the United Kingdom's sovereign rights over the Falkland Islands.
Andrew Rosindell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had regarding the promotion of the export of
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meat from the Falklands since the recent outbreak of foot and mouth in Brazil, with particular reference to beef; and if he will make a statement. [33900]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: The promotion of the export of meat from the Falkland Islands is a matter for the Falkland Islands Government. The Falkland Islands do not currently export beef—production is for the local market only. The Sand Bay abattoir is only certified by the EU for the export of sheep meat.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Royal Navy ships have been operating near the Falkland Islands in each of the last five years; and what activities have been undertaken by them. [33901]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: From 2000 to 2005 the following HM ships have patrolled near the Falkland Islands as the Atlantic Patrol Task South:
HMS Leeds Castle and HMS Dumbarton Castle—Falkland Islands Patrol Vessel—one of the two has been permanently deployed to the islands.
HMS Endurance visits the Falkland Islands as part of her South Atlantic and Antarctic austral summer deployments each year.
Black Rover, Grey Rover and Gold Rover have all spent time in the Falklands over the last five years.
We do not comment on submarine movements.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent actions have been taken to dissuade the Argentine Government from attempting to gain sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. [33902]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: The Government consistently tell the Argentine Government that we have no doubts about the sovereignty of the Islands and there will be no negotiations unless and until the Falkland islanders agree.
The presence of British Forces South Atlantic Islands in the islands, our consistent rejection of Argentine protests over sovereignty and the activities of the Falkland Islands Government reaffirm our stance on sovereignty. Successive
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democratic Argentine Governments have said publicly that they intend to pursue their claim to the Falkland Islands peacefully.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK Government have had any discussions with the Argentine Government concerning the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands since 1997. [33903]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: The UK has not had any discussions concerning sovereignty of the Falklands with Argentina since 1997. However, we consistently make clear that we have no doubts about the sovereignty of the Islands and there will be no negotiations unless and until the Falkland Islanders agree.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what visits to the Falkland Islands by members of the royal family are planned. [33904]
Ian Pearson: The forward programme of visits by members of the royal family to the Falkland Islands has not been finalised. For security reasons, royal visits overseas are not generally announced until a matter of weeks before a visit takes place.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit the Falkland Islands. [33906]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: My right. hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary, has no current plans to visit the Falkland Islands.
However, Ministers take every opportunity to meet with councillors from the Falkland Islands when they visit the UK, during which a whole range of issues are discussed. My noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, recently met with councillors from the Falklands in October, when chairing the Overseas Territories Consultative Council.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have been injured by land mines in the Falkland Islands in each year since 1993. [33908]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: There have been no injuries caused by land mines in the Falkland Islands since 1993.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to encourage the Falklands to increase its exports to the UK. [33909]
Mr. Douglas Alexander:
The Falkland Islands Government are responsible for encouraging the increase in exports to the UK. The combining of the Falkland Islands Company shipping service with the Falkland Islands re-supply service will both increase frequency and introduce some medium term rate stability for farmers shipping wool to the UK.
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Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK residents have taken up residence in the Falkland Islands in the last 10 years. [33910]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: The Falkland Islands Government do not keep statistics on UK residents who have taken up residence in the Falkland Islands in the last 10 years. However, census figures identify people physically present in the Falkland Islands on the day of the census by country of birth. The figures for those born in the United Kingdom from the last four censuses are as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1986 | 465 |
| 1991 | 664 |
| 1996 | 640 |
| 2001 | 704 |
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on comments made by the Cuban Alternate Permanent Representative at the United Nations at the General Assembly's 4th Commission on Special Policies and Decolonisation in October regarding Cuba's support for the right of Argentina in the dispute over sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. [33898]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: The UK's position on this issue is well known, and was last set out in detail by the UK's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Sir Emyr Jones Parry, in a written right of reply to the statement by His Excellency President Nestor Carlos Kirchner of the Republic of Argentina, in the high-level plenary session of the General Assembly on 14 September 2005.
The United Kingdom has no doubts about its sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. There can be no negotiations on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands unless and until such time as the islanders so wish.
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