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16 Jan 2006 : Column 984W—continued
US Administration (Rendition)
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the wording of questions (a) he and (b) his officials have put to the US Administration about rendition in each of the last six months. [41856]
Dr. Howells: It is not usual practice to make public the content of confidential ministerial or official exchanges with our international partners. We discuss security and human rights issues with the United States on a regular basis.
Since before 11 September 2001, we have worked closely with the US to achieve our shared goal of fighting terrorism. As part of that close co-operation, we have made clear to the US authorities, including in recent months:
that we expect them to seek permission to render detainees via UK territory and airspace (including Overseas Territories and Sovereign Bases);
that we will grant permission only if we are satisfied that the rendition would accord with UK law and our international obligations; and
West Papua
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the source was of the advice to his Department that the recent use of Tactica water cannon vehicles by police in West Papua was for the purpose of dispersing a violent incident during which demonstrators were seeking to cause criminal damage to a public facility. [41946]
Ian Pearson: Following reports that Tactica water cannon had been used in Papua, an embassy official visited Papua and spoke to local community leaders and non-governmental organisations there.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what lines of inquiry his Department is pursuing to investigate the events that led to Tactica water cannon vehicles being used recently by police in West Papua on demonstrators, in addition to information from the Indonesian Government. [41947]
Ian Pearson: The British embassy has followed up reports that Tactica water cannon were used in Papua by speaking to a number of local community leaders and non-governmental organisations about the use of water cannon in Papua.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2005, Official Report, column 1562W, on West Papua, what the reasons are for not making the reports available to (a) the public and (b) hon. Members; what his response would be to a freedom of information request for the same documents; and if he will make a statement. [42000]
Ian Pearson: Release of political reporting would cause harm to the effective conduct of international relations as it depends upon maintaining trust and confidence between Governments and international organisations. This relationship allows for the free and frank exchange of information on the understanding that it will be treated in confidence. By releasing information that they have provided strictly in confidence, there is a possibility that they would refuse to share similar information in the future. This would harm the UK's ability to protect and promote its interests through international relations, which there is a strong public interest in maintaining. For these reasons we consider that the public interest in maintaining this exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing it.
These reasons apply equally if the reports were requested for release to the public, to Parliament or through Freedom of Information Act requests.
Wouter Basson
Andrew Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what investigations have been carried out as a result of the statement by South Africa's Deputy Defence Minister Kasrils that Wouter Basson obtained information from
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the United Kingdom in support of the apartheid regime's chemical and biological weapons programme; and if he will make a statement. [39743]
Dr. Howells: Following allegations that the Government was involved in providing information to personnel connected to South Africa's Chemical and Biological Weapons programme, the Government conducted full investigations into the allegations made. There was no evidence to suggest UK Government officials knowingly provided assistance to any South African Chemical and Biological Weapons programme.
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the reasons were for each of the three de"marches made by and on behalf of the UK Government to (a) President Mandela and (b) the South African Government in respect of Wouter Basson; and if he will make a statement. [39798]
Dr. Howells: De"marches were made to the South African Government to highlight the Government's concerns about the onward proliferation risk of any remaining records or expertise relating to offensive Chemical and Biological Weapons programmes, and to encourage South Africa to submit a confidence building measure return to the United Nations in respect of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Bill of Rights
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress made in implementing the proposal to establish a round-table forum to progress the debate about a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. [9129]
Mr. Hanson: I wrote to all Northern Ireland political party leaders on 28 December 2005 inviting each of them to meet with me to discuss their views on how we can work to build cross-community support for a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.
Civil Service
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from which Departments of the Northern Ireland Office officials responsible for the Department's e-Business strategies were represented on the project board for the Northern Ireland civil service e-HR contract. [36176]
Angela E. Smith: The Government Departments from which officials responsible for the e-Business strategies were represented on the project board for the Northern Ireland civil service e-HR contract are as follows:
Correspondence
Lady Hermon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will reply to the letter dated
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11 November 2005 from the hon. Member for North Down in relation to the Mental Health Unit at Ards hospital. [42721]
Mr. Woodward: There is no record of a letter dated 11 November 2005 being received by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in relation to the Mental Health Unit at Ards Hospitals.
Dentistry
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many dental practices in Northern Ireland ceased to operate within the NHS during 2005. [42134]
Mr. Woodward: During 2005 two dental surgeries closed. In the first case, the dental contractor owned a second surgery and the registered patient list transferred to the contractor's other surgery. In the second case, all the registered patients were transferred to another NHS dental provider in the near vicinity.
Departmental Staff
Mr. Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are taken by the Department to support staff with mental ill health. [36271]
Mr. Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office provides emotional support, advice and factual information in a confidential manner to staff with mental ill health.
Occupational health services are available to help employees remain effective in work or to facilitate the successful return to work.
Two Northern Ireland Office Agencies offer staff an employee assistance programme, counselling and psychotherapy services.
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