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9 May 2006 : Column 195W
In response to the nationwide demonstrations in April, I issued a public statement condemning the excessive violence that the Nepalese people have suffered. The full text of the statement is availableon the FCO website: http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029391629&a=KArticle&aid=1144253679044%20&year=2006&month=2006-04-01&date=2006-04-21 The EU also issued a statement calling on all concerned to exercise restraint and resolve the problems by restoring democracy and by initiating a dialogue for peace. The statement can be found on the EU website at: http://www.eu2006.at/en/News/CFSP_Statements/April/2504Nepal.html For this reason we are greatly encouraged by the King's restoration of Parliament. This is a tribute to the Nepalese people's desire for democracy and peace. We hope that all those concerned will now work together to restore peace, democracy and human rights in Nepal and we will continue to assist them in their efforts.
Nuclear Weapons Convention
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the feasibility of a further nuclear weapons convention; and if she will make a statement. [68514]
Dr. Howells: The Government consider the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to be the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime and the framework for nuclear disarmament. The UK has an excellent record in implementing its disarmament obligations under Article VI of the NPT and, in this regard, continues to press for multilateral negotiations towards mutual, balanced and verifiable reductions in nuclear weapons. The Government do not support any new process, including a Nuclear Weapons Convention, which could risk cutting across the existing NPT regime.
Palestinian Authority
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with her Quartet counterparts regarding Russia's decision to fund the new Palestinian Authority; and if she will make a statement. [69177]
Dr. Howells: We value Russia as a member of the Quartet (EU, US, UN and Russia). Russia has made clear its support for the Quartet's three principles of commitment to non-violence, recognition of Israel and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the roadmap. We are aware that Russia has pledged US$10 million to the Palestinian Authority (PA). Funding to the PA is one of a range of issues that we discuss with our Quartet partners. We discussed funding issues at an informal meeting of international donors on 27 April in London, which all the Quartet members attended.
Peru
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Government of Peru about (a) the
re-emergence of the Shining Path guerrilla group and (b) their links to the drug trade. [68171]
Mr. Hoon: Through our embassy in Lima and contact with visiting Peruvian officials in London, the UK has regular discussions with the Peruvian authorities about terrorism and drugs, including the alleged links between remnants of the Shining Path guerrilla group and the illegal drugs trade.
RAF Wideawake
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the US Administration has paid for the use of RAF Wideawake in each year since 1997. [66959]
Mr. Hoon: Wideawake Airfield, constructed by the US government in 1942, forms part of the US Long Range Proving Ground Base sites on Ascension Island. Under the terms of the Bahamas Agreement, the US government uses these sites on Ascension Island free from rent and charges.
Rendition
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 18 April 2006, Official Report, column 88W, on rendition, whether the derivation of the legal requirement for permission to fly through UK territory and airspace, including overseas territories, is affected by the purpose of the flight to which the request for permission relates. [68685]
Dr. Howells: The legal requirement for a state to seek permission to render detainees via UK territory of airspace, including overseas territories, applies regardless of any other purpose of the flight to which the request for permission relates.
Son Jong Nam
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will meet representatives of Christian Solidarity Worldwide to discuss the case of Mr. Son Jong Nam, sentenced to death in North Korea. [68644]
Mr. McCartney [holding answer 8 May 2006]: My officials have raised Son Jong Nam's case with the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea authorities. Due to diary commitments, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is unable to meet representatives of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, but my hon. Friend the former Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs (Ian Pearson) met the President of its Board of Trustees to discuss the issue.
Turkey
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when her Department last lodged an official complaint about human rights abuses in Turkey; and if she will make a statement. [66645]
Mr. Hoon: The Government closely monitor the human rights situation in Turkey and raise concerns as appropriate with the Turkish Government. Our ambassador in Ankara raised concerns about freedom of religion, the south-east and freedom of expression with senior Turkish Ministers and politicians on13 April. Our ambassador also raised freedom of expression, especially Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, in an EU Heads of Mission meeting with the Turkish Foreign Minister on 19 April.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment she has made of the treatment of detainees held following recent protests in south-eastern Turkey; and if she will make a statement; [66943]
(2) if she will draw the attention of the Turkish Government to the European Union's Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict in relation to the Turkish Government's response to the peaceful demonstrations in south-eastern Turkey in recent weeks; and if she will make a statement; [66945]
(3) if she will make representations to the Government of Turkey on methods used to deal with recent peaceful demonstrations in south-eastern Turkey. [66946]
Mr. Hoon: According to official, media and non-governmental organisation reports, the recent demonstrations in south east Turkey were not peaceful in nature. The Government condemns the violence and subsequent terrorist attacks in Istanbul. Our ambassador in Ankara has raised this issue with the Turkish Foreign Minister, but Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have not discussed these recent events with the Turkish Government. We have not raised the EU's Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict and have no plans to do so at present.
We will continue to monitor developments and will raise specific allegations of human rights abuse, including any related to the methods used and treatment of detainees, as appropriate.
Turkmenistan
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with her EU counterparts about (a) human rights in, (b) trade with and (c) gas reserves in Turkmenistan. [68188]
Mr. Hoon: As with all of the countries of Central Asia, we continue to have a close dialogue with our EU partners on Turkmenistan. In November 2005, together with our EU partners, we supported a resolution on Turkmenistan in the UN's Third Committee. This resolution comprehensively covered the points of progress and of continuing concern and encouraged the Government of Turkmenistan to ensure full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The next EU-Turkmenistan Joint Committee Meeting, including an Ad-Hoc Meeting on human rights, is due to take place on 1 June 2006. Prior to this, we will be consulting closely with our EU colleagues on
the issues to be covered. These will inevitably include human rights issues and questions relating to trade and economic co-operation.
Earlier this year Jan Kubis, the EU Special Representative for Central Asia, visited Turkmenistan and met President Niyazov with whom he was able to discuss the full range of EU-Turkmen issues including energy and human rights. After this visit, on 8 March 2006, my right hon. Friend the then Minister for Europe (Mr. Alexander) had a discussion with Kubis about Central Asia, including Turkmenistan. I am hoping to meet Kubis later this month.
Northern Ireland
Attracta Harron
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions between September 2003 and 11 December 2003 the person subsequently convicted of the murder of Attracta Harron received a home visit without advance notice from those responsible for ascertaining his whereabouts. [66113]
Mr. Hanson: The Probation Board for Northern Ireland has been requested to prepare a pre-sentence report on Trevor Hamilton who was convicted of the murder of Attracta Harron.
The Probation Board for Northern Ireland is unable to comment on the details of the case or its handling until sentence has been imposed, to avoid any risk of prejudicing the matter. I will write to the hon. Gentleman once sentence has been passed.
Cancer
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children received cancer treatment in Northern Ireland in (a) 1999, (b) 2001, (c) 2003 and (d) 2005, broken down by (i) council district and (ii) age group. [69377]
Paul Goggins: The number of children who received cancer treatment in Northern Ireland is not available, however the number of children admitted(1) to hospitals in Northern Ireland with a primary or secondary diagnosis of cancer related illnesses is available by local district council and age groups and is shown in the following tables. The full 2005 calendar year's information is currently unavailable therefore 2004 information has been provided.
(1 )The figures presented are for the number of individual children admitted (discharges and deaths are used as an approximation for admissions) to hospitals in Northern Ireland. It should be noted that if a child is admitted to more than one hospital in any year or over a number of years he/she will be counted more than once in the tables.
| Calendar year | ||||
| Local government district 1992 name | (a) 1999 | (b) 2001 | (c) 2003 | (d) 2004 |
| Note: Please note that cell sizes that have a value of less than 5 have been masked in order to help protect confidentiality. Source: Hospital Inpatient System. |
| Calendar year | ||||
| Age groups | (a) 1999 | (b) 2001 | (c) 2003 | (d) 2004 |
| Source: Hospital Inpatient System. |
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