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Antarctic Research
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much Government funding has been allocated in each of the last five years to the Antarctic Research stations of (a) Halley, (b) Bird Island, (c) Signy Island and (d) Rothera. [36076]
Alan Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
The Natural Environment Research Council's funding (through the British Antarctic Survey) of these Antarctic stations in the last five years is detailed in the following table:
China
Mr. Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Chinese Government following the action by paramilitary police against villagers protesting over the seizure of land for a power plant in Dongzhou, Guangdong province. [38667]
Ian Pearson: The Government are aware of reports of action by Chinese police against villagers in Dongzhou, Guangdong province. We have not made representations to the Chinese about this particular incident. We understand that the Chinese authorities have taken action against a police commander held responsible for the incident. We are continuing to monitor the situation.
The Government remain concerned about the human rights situation in China in general. Through regular dialogue with the Chinese authorities we encourage China to engage constructively with the international community on social issues and human rights.
Departmental Assets
Mr. MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the works of art and antiques owned by his Department with a value over £20,000 each together with the (a) value and (b) location. [38547]
Mr. Straw:
A list of art and antiques owned by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be placed in the Library of the House. This list excludes all items owned by the Government Art Collection but out on loan. Please note that not all the art and antique items at
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Lancaster House have been given a specific value but are included in an overall valuation undertaken by Sotheby's.
Mr. MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the art and antiques with a value of over £10,000 (a) sold and (b) purchased by his Department since 1997. [38548]
Mr. Straw: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold information about purchases and sales of art and antiques in previous financial years in a format that enables us to identify individual items. Such a list could only be produced from a detailed examination of financial records in the UK and at posts. This examination could be carried out only at a disproportionate cost.
Detention Centres (US Flights)
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 December 2005, Official Report, column 1647W, on detention centres (US flights), whether (a) he and (b) his officials have (i) received and (ii) sought from the US Secretary of State following her statement of 5 December 2005 (A) the US Administration's working definition of torture and (B) details of the questioning techniques used when interviewing terrorist suspects in countries other than the United States. [38315]
Dr. Howells: We discuss security and human rights issues with the United States (US) Government on a regular basis. My hon. Friend will be aware of the recent understanding reached between President Bush and Senator McCain on legislation confirming that cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment of detainees in US custody is forbidden, and that this prohibition will apply to all US personnel. As the US Secretary of State made clear in her statement of 7 December 2005, US obligations under the United Nations Convention Against Torture already extend to US personnel wherever they are. We understand that the US Government will shortly issue guidelines confirming the way that the legislation and policy should be implemented.
EU Committees
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings of the EU (a) Joint Committee (EEC-Argentina), (b) Joint Committee (EEC-Brazil), (c) Joint Committee (EEC-Chile) and (d) Joint Committee (EEC-Andean Pact) have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who was presiding over each meeting; what other UK representatives were present; what provisions were made for representation of the devolved governments; and if he will make a statement. [38793]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: There have been no meetings of the European Commission Joint Committees on Argentina, Brazil, Chile or the Andean Pact during the UK presidency.
Angus Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings of the EU (a) EC-Georgia Cooperation Committee,
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(b) EC-San Marino Cooperation Committee, (c) EEC-Ukraine Cooperation Committee and (d) EC-Tunisia Association Committee have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who was presiding over each meeting; what other UK representatives were present; what provision was made for representation of the devolved governments; and if he will make a statement. [38796]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: During the UK presidency there were no meetings of the Co-operation Committees with Georgia and San Marino, or the Association Committee with Tunisia.
A Co-operation Committee with Ukraine took place on 19 October in Kiev. Mr Hugues Mingarelli, European Commission, led the EU delegation. Mr Arseniy Yatseniuk, Minister of Economy, led the Ukrainian delegation. For the presidency, the Ambassador and Deputy Head of Mission from the British Embassy, Kiev attended. No provision was made for representation of the devolved Governments at this meeting.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings of the EU (a) EC-Morocco Association Committee, (b) Joint Committee (EC-Palestinian Authority), (c) EC-Egypt Association Committee and (d) EEC-Israel Association Committee have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who was presiding over each meeting; what other UK representatives were present; what provision was made for representation of the devolved Governments; and if he will make a statement. [38797]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: There have been no meetings of the EC-Morocco Association Committee, the EC-Palestinian Authority Joint Committee, the EC-Egypt Association Committee or the EEC-Israel Association Committee during the UK presidency of the EU.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings of the (a) Joint Committee (EEC-Andora), (b) EC-Armenia Co-operation Committee and (c) Joint Committee (EEC-Estonia) have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who was presiding over each meeting; what other UK representatives were present; what provisions were made for representation of the devolved governments; and if he will make a statement. [39036]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: There are no Joint Committees as such, but there are EU-Association Committees for both Bulgaria and Romania. One meeting of the EU-Romania Association Committee has taken place under the UK presidency, on 15 July in Bucharest. This was chaired by the European Commission. A representative of the UK presidency was present as an observer. The EU-Bulgaria Association Committee has not met under our presidency. No provision was made for representation of the devolved Governments at these meetings.
Angus Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings of the (a) EC-Moldova Cooperation Committee, (b) Joint Committee (EC-Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) and (c) EEC-Russia Cooperation Committee have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who presided over each meeting; which other
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UK representatives were present; what provisions were made for representation of the devolved Governments; and if he will make a statement. [39041]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: A Co-operation Committee with Moldova took place on 29 November in Chisinau. Ms Hilde Hardeman, European Commission, led the EU delegation. Mr Valeriu Ostalep, Deputy Foreign Minister, led the Moldovan delegation. For the presidency, the British Ambassador to Moldova attended.
The EU-Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Stabilisation and Association Council took place in Brussels on 18 July. I represented the presidency with supporting officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Office of the United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the European Union.
No provision was made for representation of the devolved administrations at these meetings.
There were no meetings of the Co-operation Committee with Russia during the UK presidency.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings of the (a) Committee for protection against the effects of the extra-territorial application of legislation adopted by a third country, and actions based thereon or resulting therefrom (anti-boycott), (b) Committee on aid for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and (c) Committee on implementation of the programme of assistance to promote the transition to a market economy and to strengthen democracy and the rule of law in the partner State of Eastern Europe and Central Asia have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who presided over each meeting; what other UK representatives were present; what provisions were made for representation of the devolved governments; and if he will make a statement. [39047]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: There have been no meetings of the 'Committee for protection against the effects of the extra-territorial application of legislation adopted by a third country, and actions based thereon or resulting therefrom (anti-boycott)' during the UK presidency of the European Union.
During the UK presidency the Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation (CARDS) Management Committee met twice, on 15 September and 18 November. The CARDS Management Committee oversees the implementation of council regulation (EC) No 2666/2000. The Committee is convened and constituted for member states to assist the Commission with the implementation of the CARDS programme of assistance to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. It is chaired by the Commission. The meetings were attended by officials from the Department for International Development (DFID).
During the UK presidency the Technical Assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent States (TACIS) Management Committee met four times: 8 July, 23 September, 24 October and 25 November. The TACIS
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Management Committee oversees the implementation of council regulation (EC, Euratom) No 99/2000. The Committee is convened and constituted for member states to assist the Commission with the implementation of the TACIS programme. It operates independently of the presidency and is chaired by the Commission. The meetings were attended by officials from DFID and the Office of the United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the European Union. On one occasion a Foreign and Commonwealth Office official also attended.
No provision was made for representation of the devolved administrations at these meetings.
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