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Haiti

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between the UK and Haiti. [55585]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: Historically there has not been a close relationship between the UK and Haiti, and direct UK interests in Haiti are limited. The British embassy in the Dominican Republic has responsibility for British interests in Haiti, and our ambassador to the Dominican Republic makes regular visits. The UK also maintains a locally engaged vice-consul in Port-au-Prince, although the consulate's public operations are currently temporarily suspended due to the security situation.

The Government continue to support EU and UN efforts to alleviate the considerable levels of poverty that exist in Haiti and to bring security to the country.

High Commission Offices

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings High Commission staff based in South Africa have had with government officials in Lesotho since the withdrawal of the High Commission in Lesotho. [56202]

Ian Pearson: Our High Commission staff in Pretoria have regular and frequent contact with government officials in Lesotho. Our High Commissioner to South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland presented his credentials to the King of Lesotho on 20 October 2005. He was accompanied by the Deputy High Commissioner, Regional Affairs Officer and Press Officer. While there, they met the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Ministers of Home Affairs, Finance and Agriculture, the Acting Foreign Minister and officials from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Finance Minister's office. On 17 November, the High Commissioner and Regional Affairs officer met the Ministers of Finance and Trade and the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs. Staff from the High Commission also visited Lesotho in October 2005 and February 2006. The High Commissioner and his staff have also met Prince Seeiso, Lesotho's High Commissioner to London.
 
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Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the withdrawal of the High Commission in (a) Lesotho and (b) Swaziland on relations between each country and the UK. [56205]

Ian Pearson: We continue to enjoy full diplomatic relations with the Governments of Lesotho and Swaziland. We have regular contact with the High Commissioners of Lesotho and Swaziland in London and, through our High Commission in Pretoria, with government and civil society in both countries. When our High Commissioner to Pretoria visited Lesotho to present his credentials on 20 October 2005, he discussed our bilateral relationship, debt relief to Lesotho and the situation in Zimbabwe with King Letsie III, and other members of the Lesotho Government. When he presented his credentials in Swaziland on 16 February 2006, he discussed with King Mswati III and Prince David, Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs and Acting Foreign Minister, the questions of human rights, governance, the rule of law in Swaziland and the situation in Zimbabwe and its impact on Swaziland.

Holy See

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent on (a) refurbishment, (b) redecorations and (c) furnishings for (i) the embassy and (ii) the ambassador's residence to the Holy See in the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [54315]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: In the past five years, £129,970.03 was spent on refurbishment of the embassy (this includes £100,975 to prepare the new offices on the Porta Pia compound); £13,888.88 was spent on redecoration of the old embassy offices; and £12,108.49 was spent on furnishings (£10,054 for the new offices).

In the past five years, £48,355.68 was spent on refurbishment of the residence; £26,150.32 on redecoration; and £86,964.37 on furnishings.

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) agreements and (b) treaties exist between the United Kingdom and the Holy See; and if he will make a statement. [54316]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: There are no formal bilateral agreements or treaties existing between the United Kingdom and the Holy See.

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what undertakings were entered into by both parties following the restoration of full diplomatic representation between the United Kingdom and the Holy See in 1982; whether these have been varied by either party since; and if he will make a statement. [54317]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: We have not entered into any binding undertakings with the Holy See since the restoration of full diplomatic relations between the UK and the Holy See in 1982.

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what the costs were of (a) the lease of the ambassador's residence to
 
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the Holy See which is to be surrendered in April and (b) the lease of the new residence; and if he will make a statement; [54433]

(2) what the size in square metres is of the residence of the ambassador to the Holy See which will be surrendered in April; and what the size of the new residence is. [55756]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: The rent for the residence of Her Majesty's ambassador to the Holy See under the lease to be surrendered in April is €11,020.22 per calendar month, rising to €11,262.66 in the final two months to reflect annual indexation. A short-term extension has been agreed at a rent of €25,000.00 per calendar month, the current market rate, pending relocation to a new permanent residence. The current residence is 823m ² . We are currently looking for a new residence.

Iran

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he will be taking at the UN Security Conference following the confirmation that Iran is testing a cascade of 20 centrifuges at its Natanz pilot uranium-enrichment plant. [56711]

Dr. Howells: At the request of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Board of Governors, the IAEA Director General wrote to the President of the United Nations Security Council in February, reporting steps required of Iran by the board. Our aim in involving the Security Council is to reinforce the IAEA's authority, and to put the weight of the Security Council behind the board's requests. We will be in close contact with other Security Council members in the coming weeks.

Kenya

Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the action taken by the Government of Kenya against the Kenyan media. [56861]

Ian Pearson: In a statement issued on 2 March, we, along with 26 nations, strongly condemned the raids on Kenya Television Network's studios and the offices of the Standard Group, as well as the closing down of their operations. This action constitutes an unacceptable attack on the freedom of the media.

We call upon the Government of Kenya to issue an immediate and comprehensive statement about the incident and explain what actions it will take to investigate what eye-witness reports suggest were cases of assault, theft, unlawful destruction of property, kidnapping and harassment.

Liberia

Mr. Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Liberia. [55832]

 
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Ian Pearson: Crimes were committed against all parts of society, although particularly against women and children, during the long civil war in Liberia. Hundreds of thousands fled. Around 250,000 Liberians have returned home since the beginning of October 2004, but some 60,000 remain in camps. Most are, or have been, supported by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

Soldiers, many of whom were children, have been disarmed and demobilised (DD), and the rehabilitation and reintegration (RR) process continues. The Government strongly supports the DDRR process.

Following the successful election process in Liberia, the UK is now looking to how best to target our assistance in 2006. We are starting to focus on justice sector reform and are currently working with the United Nations to deliver access to justice for all in Liberia.

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