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11 May 2006 : Column 519W—continued
Youth Justice and Criminal Justice Act
Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the research commissioned by his Department on section 41 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Justice Act will be published. [68558]
Mr. Sutcliffe [holding answer 11 May 2006]: RDS-OCJR are proposing to publish the research it commissioned on section 41 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Justice Act on 25 May 2006.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Colombia
John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 16 April 2006, Official Report, column 75W, on Colombia, in what ways (a) the UK has re-aligned its project assistance and (b) the EU has re-aligned Commission project assistance to match the UN recommendations on Colombia. [69426]
Mr. Hoon: The UK's project assistance priorities have been aligned with the spirit of the UN human rights recommendations in Colombia since the latter were first published in 2003. We also take into account UK Project Programme Priorities, other donors' activities in Colombia and areas where the UK can add particular value through experience or expertise. In Colombia, current priorities for UK project assistance include the protection of child rights, improvements in the rule of law, protection and promotion of freedom of expression and human rights defenders, security sector reform and conflict resolution. We aim to support sustainable institutional reform, as well as the most vulnerable communities in Colombia. The Department for International Development also supports non-governmental organisations' projects in Colombia on sustainable economic development for vulnerable communities, health and education, environment, strengthening civil society and projects to help reduce poverty and inequality.
The EU has long provided the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) office in Colombia with both political and financial support. The EU budget is currently supporting three projects that directly help respond to the needs highlighted in
their recommendations, covering capacity building of state and municipal institutions responsible for human rights. Each year the EC delegation in Colombia review the UNHCHR's office's fresh recommendations in order to be able to adapt EU co-operation projects in general, especially in the human rights field.
EU Presidency
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations her Department has made to (a) the EU Commission and (b) the Government of Finland in their capacity as the next EU presidency on the future of the UK's veto on police and judicial affairs. [69832]
Mr. Hoon: Under the current EU treaty framework, co-operation on police and judicial matters is agreed by unanimity. That could only change to majority voting if all member states, including the UK, agree. We are aware of unofficial proposals to apply majority voting to some areas of police and judicial co-operation, but there is no formal proposal under discussion. As such, the Government have not made formal representations to the EU Commission or to the incoming EU presidency.
Iran (Military Technology Sales)
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information she has received about the role of Belarus in exporting Russian military technology to Iran, with particular reference to S-300SP surface-to-air missiles. [69302]
Mr. Hoon: We are aware of and concerned by media reports alleging Belarus has re-exported to Iran arms bought from Russia. The established policy of the EU is not to sell arms to Iran.
Israel
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of Israel's compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty. [69931]
Mr. Hoon: Israel is not a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and is therefore not required to be in compliance with it. However, Israel has a site-specific safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which gives the IAEA access to certain nuclear sites for monitoring.
Latin America
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has received concerning the level of UK diplomatic representation in Latin America; and if she will make a statement on future plans for such representation. [69222]
Mr. Hoon: In the last two years, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has received a number of representations from members of the public, hon. Members and noble Lords concerning the level of UK diplomatic representation in Latin America. These representations have focused particularly on the closure of the British embassies in Honduras (2003), El Salvador (2003), Nicaragua (2004) and Paraguay (2005).
On 28 March 2006, my right hon. Friend the then Foreign Secretary (Mr. Straw) launched the White Paper “Active Diplomacy for a Changing World: The UK's International Priorities”. This updates the December 2003 White Paper “UK International Priorities: a strategy for the FCO”, and sets out the Government's international priorities for the next 10 years and the FCO's strategy for delivering them. In the new White Paper we make clear that the network must change and adapt to new opportunities, risks and priorities and that opening, closing and restructuring posts is essential to maintaining our global flexibility. The new White Paper can be found on the FCO website at: http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/fullintpriorities2006.pdf.
We therefore continue to monitor our overseas network to ensure that our resources are deployed in line with our priorities and that we provide the best possible value for money to the taxpayer.
Mikola Kalinin
Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment of the human rights conditions in Belarus she has undertaken since the recent attack on Mikola Kalinin. [69473]
Mr. Hoon: The human rights situation in Belarus remains of concern. Following the flawed Presidential elections on 19 March the Belarusian regime has moved to crack-down on the opposition and to stifle any dissent. Demonstrations have been broken up and the main opposition leaders and their key supporters have been arrested or detained. The independent press remains muzzled or has been driven underground. Non-governmental organisations are subject to harassment and their funding severely curtailed. The attack on Mikola Kalinin, an activist on Roma rights, is an example of the atmosphere of intimidation that exists for those seeking to support the fundamental freedom and right of civil society to express its concerns.
We deplore this situation and the unjustified actions taken to prevent demonstrators, human rights campaigners and opposition leaders from exercising their right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. We support calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all those arrested for taking part in demonstrations and of those political prisoners arrested before the election. My right hon. Friend the then Minister for Europe (Douglas Alexander) did so in Vilnius on 4 May when he met the wives of the arrested opposition candidates, Milinkevich and Kazulin.
Morocco
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the aims and objectives are of UK relations with Morocco. [69933]
Mr. Hoon: My right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw) the then Foreign Secretary visited Morocco on 13 February when he met King Mohammed VI and announced the creation of a bilateral Ministerial Dialogue Forum to take forward relations. We aim to strengthen the relationship, support the Moroccan government's plans for economic and human development, and strengthen our co-operation in areas of mutual interest and concern, including tackling the threat from international terrorism and managing the challenge presented by regional migration.
Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. [69932]
Mr. Hoon: The UK believes the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) remains the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and the framework for nuclear disarmament. As relevant today as it was in 1965, the NPT offers the best hope of achieving a world free from nuclear weapons. That is why the UK has consistently worked to sustain the objectives and strengthen all three pillars of the treaty.
Palestinian Authority
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions her Department has had on the possible resumption of EU aid payments to the Palestinian Authority; and if she will make a statement. [69830]
Mr. Hoon: We regularly have discussions with EU and Quartet partners (US, EU, UN and Russia) about assistance to the Palestinian people. We discussed funding issues at an informal meeting of international donors on 27 April in London, which all the Quartet members attended.
We fully support the position of the Quartet and the EU on direct assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA). On 30 March the Quartet noted with concern that the new Palestinian Government's programme did not meet the principles which the Quartet set out on 30 January—a commitment to non-violence, recognition of Israel and acceptance of previous agreements including the roadmap. The 10 April General Affairs External Relations Council (GAERC) conclusions stated that
“the EU is reviewing its assistance to the Palestinians against the new government's commitment to the aforementioned principles. The Council recalled that the absence of such commitment will inevitably have an effect on direct assistance to that government. The EU will continue to provide necessary assistance to meet the basic needs of the Palestinian population”.
“expressed its willingness to endorse a temporary international mechanism that is limited in scope and duration, operates with full transparency and accountability, and ensures direct delivery of assistance to the Palestinian people”.
We fully support this, having presented similar proposals at the informal meeting of international donors at Canada House on 27 April. The EU has been tasked with developing this mechanism. We will work closely with EU Partners to achieve this. We expect further discussion at the GAERC on 15 May. This mechanism is one of a range of things that the UK is doing to support the Palestinian people. On 9 May the Quartet also noted its willingness to work towards the restoration of international assistance to the PA Government once they have committed to the three Quartet principles.
On 25 April the Department for International Development announced a £15 million payment to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
Prisoners (British Citizens)
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British subjects are serving prison sentences in other EU countries. [69600]
Mr. Hoon: On 31 March 2006, British consular officials were aware of 739 British nationals detained in EU countries. The breakdown by country is shown as follows. These figures include detainees on remand, as well as those serving sentences. We do not maintain separate statistics on the numbers serving sentences.
| Number | |
Russia
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Russian government on racism and racial violence. [69960]
Mr. Hoon: Ministers and staff at our Embassy in Moscow regularly raise human rights issues with the Russian government in the course of their continuous contacts. We also work closely with non-governmental organisations in Russia on this issue. Our Ambassador in Moscow most recently raised our concerns about racially motivated crimes in Russia with members of the Russian Presidential Administration in April 2006. Racism was also an important issue discussed at the EU/Russia Human Rights consultation in March 2006. The EU and Russian delegations taking part also undertook a study tour of the European Centre on Racism and Xenophobia prior to the human rights consultations.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the government of Russia on the use of torture in Chechnya. [69998]
Mr. Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the then Minister for Europe (Douglas Alexander) gave him on 27 February 2006, Official Report, column 312W. Following this answer, my predecessor had further discussions on the human rights situation in Chechnya with his Russian counterpart during his visit to Moscow in March 2006.
Northern Ireland
Alcohol-Related Conditions
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 18 April 2006, Official Report, column 461W, on alcohol-related conditions, how many people were admitted to each acute hospital in Northern Ireland where the primary or secondary diagnosis was an alcohol-related condition in each of the last three years for which data are available. [69243]
Paul Goggins: The number of individuals admitted is not available. However, the number of admissions(1) to acute hospital in Northern Ireland where the primary or secondary diagnosis was for an alcohol-related condition for each of the last three financial years is available and is presented in the following table.
(1) Discharges and deaths are used as an approximation to admissions. It is possible that any individual could be admitted to hospital more than once in any year and will thus be counted more than once as an admission.
For this answer an acute hospital has been identified as one where services in the acute programme of care are provided.
| Financial year | |||
| Hospital | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 |
| Source: Hospital Inpatient System |
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