| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Departmental Premises (Security)
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures are in place to ensure that no illegal immigrants are employed in the manned guarding of her Departments premises. [80799]
Mr. Hoon: Only British nationals can work as security guards in Foreign and Commonwealth Office premises in the UK. To ensure illegal immigrants are not employed the pre-employment checks require the following:
proof of nationality with photo ID (passport);
photo ID (passport or driving licence);
application form completed and checked;
four personal references;
and
five year employment history.
Departmental Staff
Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many disabled staff in her Department received support through the Access to Work scheme (a) in each of the last five years and (b) in 2006-07. [82227]
Mr. Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not have a complete record of the number of officers who have received support through the Access to Work scheme. Staff who seek such support contact the Department for Work and Pensions directly and are under no obligation to notify the FCO. However, we are aware of 15 staff who are currently receiving support.
Departmental Travel
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans she has to ensure that all flights undertaken by Ministers and officials in her Department are carbon neutral; and if she will make a statement. [81408]
Mr.
Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) offsets
the carbon dioxide and other emissions generated by the air travel of
Ministers and officials
based in the UK. Each year we offset the previous year’s air
travel emissions, so in 2005-06 we offset our 2004 emissions. An
agreement was signed with the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Partnership (REEEP) at the end of 2005 to offset our 2004 emissions,
one year ahead of the requirement for Government Departments to offset
air travel by April 2006. Through REEEP we offset our emissions by
investing in projects which provide carbon credits from renewable
energy and energy efficiency schemes. Investment is concentrated in
developing countries, which are highly dependent on fossil fuels and
inefficient energy
technology.
We are also running a travel management campaign to encourage staff to consider and use means other than travelling to communicate with their colleagues overseas wherever practical e.g. videoconferencing.
East Timor
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answers of 15 June 2006, Official Report, column 470W, on East Timor, what assessment she has madeof whether precautions to ensure the security of (a) Serious Crimes Unit files on crimes committed in 1999 and (b) other files, including those on the UN investigation into the deaths of Malcolm Rennie and Brian Peters in 1975, were along lines requested by her Department of the UN and of the Government of Timor-Leste; and if she will make a statement. [81724]
Mr. McCartney: We have informed the UN Mission to East Timor and the East Timorese Government of the importance that we attach to the security of all case files. All Serious Crimes Unit files have been copied digitally and are held by the UN. However, as yet, due to the recent civil unrest in East Timor and resulting lack of personnel within the local government, it has not been possible for the UN to establish the location of the UN investigation files relating to Malcolm Rennie and Brian Peters. We will continue to press for this information.
Ethiopia
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations her Department has made to the Government of Ethiopia on the human rights situation in that country; and if she will make a statement. [82056]
Mr. McCartney: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to her on 29 June 2006, Official Report, columns 574-75W.
EU (Qualified Majority Voting)
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when officials in her Department first became aware of EU Commission proposals to extend qualified majority voting over police and judicial affairs. [82307]
Mr. Hoon [holding answer 4 July 2006]: The possibility of extending qualified majority voting to police and judicial affairs was provided for in the Amsterdam and Nice treaties. Article 42 of the treaty on European Union (TEU)—the passerelle—allows for areas governed by title VI (third pillar) to be transferred to title IV (first pillar) by unanimous Council decision. It is likely, although not inevitable, that this would mean a move to qualified majority voting and co-decision, which is the norm in the first pillar.
The European Commission’s plans to put forward proposals for exploiting Article 42 TEU and changing the decision-making arrangements in the field of police and judicial affairs were raised, in general terms, in its communication “A Citizens’ Agenda: Delivering Results for Europe” on 10 May 2006. In this communication, the Commission announced its intention to
“present an initiative to improve decision taking and accountability in areas such as police and judicial co-operation and legal migration, using the possibilities under the existing Treaties”.
The Commission’s formal proposals for changing the decision-making procedure for the area of Justice and Home Affairs were not published until 28 June.
The Finnish presidency has also announced its intention to explore the possibility of using the article 42 passerelle to improve the decision-making process. In its ‘Preliminary Agenda for Finland’s Presidency of the EU’ of 24 May, the presidency said that the review of the Hague Programme
“could include...achieving more effective decision-making on police and criminal law (the “passerelle”)”.
EU Accession Countries
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment she has made of the suitability of the Republic of Montenegro for membership of the European Union; and if she will make a statement; [82115]
(2) what assessment she has made of whether (a) the Republic of Montenegro and (b) the Republic of Serbia will be first to join the European Union; and if she will make a statement; [82116]
(3) what discussions she has had with (a) European Commission officials and (b) other EU governments on the suitability of Montenegro for membership of the European Union; [82117]
(4) how the Stabilisation and Association negotiations will be re-launched in the aftermath of the separation of Serbia and Montenegro. [82118]
Mr.
Hoon: The UK supports both Serbia's and Montenegro's
European aspirations. The pace at which each country moves towards
membership of the EU will depend upon it meeting the conditions
required at each stage. The next stage for each state is to conclude
negotiations with the EU on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
The European Commission is likely to bring forward mandates for the
negotiations shortly. Conclusion of agreements will depend, in both
cases, on fulfilling the appropriate conditions, in particular full
co-operation with the International
Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. We will maintain regular
discussions with the European Commission and with our EU partners on
these
issues.
EU Fraud
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to her answer of 27 February 2006, Official Report, column 301, on EU fraud, what information is held on allegations by diplomats; to which cases the allegations refer; and if she will make a statement. [81943]
Mr. Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not hold a comprehensive record of EU fraud allegations. Such allegations are addressed to the EU Commission. The Government fully support the Commission’s work on this issue.
However, I can confirm that the FCO Europe Directorate does hold the following information compiled when there was public interest in two cases on 9 December 2005:
The European Commission (EC) Staff Regulations require EC staff to raise any concerns they have with either the Director-General of their institution, the Secretary-General, “persons in equivalent positions”, or the independent European Anti-Fraud Office.
Ms Schmidt-Brown recently took a case to the European Court of Justice’s Court of First Instance. The Court ruled against her. It would not be appropriate to comment on the Court’s judgement.
Mr. Tillack filed a complaint against the European Anti-Fraud Office at the European Court of Justice’s Court of First Instance. The Court rejected his case. It would not be appropriate to comment on the Court’s judgement.
Extraditions (Colombia)
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations she has made to the Irish Government about the extradition request by the Colombian Government of James Monaghan, Niall Connolly and Martin McCauley; [82377]
(2) what representations she has made to the Colombian Government in relation to its request for the extradition from the Irish Republic of James Monaghan, Niall Connolly and Martin McCauley. [82378]
Mr. McCartney: We have made no representations to either the Irish or Colombian Governments over this issue.
Extraordinary Rendition
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the statement of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on 27 June on extraordinary renditions; and if she will make a statement. [81951]
Dr.
Howells: The Government have fully co-operated with the
Council of Europe inquiries. We have found no evidence of detainees
being rendered through UK
territory or airspace where there were substantial grounds to believe
there was a real risk of torture. My right hon. Friend the then Foreign
Secretary(Mr. Straw) set out in his written ministerial
statement of 20 January 2006, Official Report, columns 37-38WS,
the results of the extensive review of Official Records back to May
1997.
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when she will provide the information on extraordinary rendition requested by the Joint Committee on Human Rights in its nineteenth report, published in May 2006. [81952]
Dr. Howells: The Government are consideringthe Joint Committee on Human Rights report on the Convention Against Torture and will reply to the Committee in due course.
Falkland Islands
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British Government will play a role in supporting the secure development of oil and gas exploration facilities in the Falkland Islands waters. [79700]
Mr. Hoon: The Government will play a role in supporting the secure development of oil and gas exploration facilities in the Falkland Islands territorial sea and continental shelf. The Government are responsible for the external security and defence of the Falkland Islands. The provision of routine security and policing of oilrigs is a matter for the Falkland Islands Government and the oil exploration companies.
Gaza
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of Statefor Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Israeli authorities about the closure of the Kerem Shalom Crossing in Gaza; and what alternative arrangements are being made to allow access to Gaza for food and medical humanitarian assistance. [82607]
Mr. McCartney [holding answer 4 July 2006]: The Kerem Shalom, as well as all other crossing points between Gaza and Israel, remains closed for Palestinian nationals. We raised our concerns about their closure and the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip with the Israeli Government on 29 June and we will continue to do so. The Erez crossing remains open for humanitarian cases.
On 2 July the Karni crossing was opened for humanitarian aid. The crossing is expected to be open for six hours a day for four days this week. According to the Israeli Ministry of Defence, Israel would allow 150 trucks carrying food and medicine to pass through the crossing each day.
Dr.
Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made by the
(a) Government, (b) EU and (c) UN of the effect on
the humanitarian situation in Gaza of (i) the closure of all land
crossing in and out of
Gaza, (ii) the prevention of fishermen accessing the sea and (iii) the
destruction of the electricity supply station.
[82610]
Mr. McCartney [holding answer 4 July 2006]: We are concerned by the humanitarian situation in Gaza, particularly the supply of electricity, water and the closure of the Gaza-Israel crossing points. Our defence attaché in Tel Aviv raised our concerns about the worsening situation in Gaza, including the loss of power and water supplies, with the Israeli Defence Force on 29 June.
On 30 June, the EU said it regrets the destruction of essential infrastructure, which contributes to the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Restoring electricity and water supplies and access for humanitarian organisations must be a prioritynow to avoid a humanitarian crisis. The EU has continually called upon both parties to implement the 15 November 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access, and for Israel to keep the crossing points between Gaza and Israel open.
On 29 June the UN Secretary-General highlighted his concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. He called on
“the Government of Israel to show restraint, to avoid actions that damage civilian infrastructure and that aggravates the hardship of the Palestinian population, and to abide by international humanitarian law. To prevent a further decline in the humanitarian situation, Israel should also act urgently to facilitate the import of essential medical supplies, foodstuffs, and particularly fuel into the Gaza Strip”.
The World Food Programme and the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported on the situation in Gaza on 30 June. They raised concerns over the water supply, health matters and food scarcity given the lack of electricity and a shortage of fuel caused by closures of the crossing points. We note with concern the World Food Programme assessment of the impact of fishermen not being able to go out to sea.
Israel
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what monitoring is being undertaken by the UK Government to ascertain whether military equipment and components supplied to Israel from the UK are being used in the military incursions by Israel into Gaza which commenced on 27 June 2006. [82166]
Dr. Howells: In common with all of our diplomatic posts, our Embassy in Tel Aviv monitors local developments closely and notes any information which comes to light that military equipment supplied by the UK has been used in a manner inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. The Government will take this into consideration when assessing any future export licence applications. The Government may also revoke relevant licence(s) and ask the authorities in the country concerned to investigate.
All
export licence applications from the UK are rigorously assessed on a
case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Export
Licensing
Criteria, taking full account of the prevailing circumstances at the
time of
application.
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate she has made of (a) the number of Palestinians taken by Israeli forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territories who are held in detention without trial and (b) the number of children taken and held in this way. [82170]
Dr. Howells: Administrative detainees are held in both Israeli Defence Force (IDF) and Israel Prisons Service (IPS) facilities. According to figures provided by the IDF to Israeli non-governmental organisations, the IDF was holding, as of 3 January 2006, 741 Palestinians in administrative detention. IPS told our embassy in Tel Aviv that, as of May 2006, 617 administrative detainees were being held in IPS facilities.
We are concerned at the policy of administrative detention, especially when periods of detention are repeatedly extended without trial and involves the detention of minors. We have made no estimate of the number of minors in Israeli prisons.
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations (a) she and (b) her officials have made to the Palestinian Authority regarding the abduction and detention without trial of Corporal Gilad Shalit by Palestinian militants. [82171]
Dr. Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the current situation in Gaza with Palestinian President Abbas on 25 June. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials are in regular contact with the Palestinian President and his office. We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Corporal Shalit.
As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said on 25 June
“I was very disturbed to learn of this serious terrorist attack at Sufa. I send my condolences to the families of those Israeli soldiers who have died. Such continued violence makes the prospect of a negotiated, peaceful resolution more distant”.
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response she has made to the agreement between Hamas and Fatah regarding acceptance of a two state settlement in Israel and Palestine; and what representations she has made to (a) the Palestinian Authority, (b) Israel and (c) the USA on the subject. [82172]
Dr. Howells: We would welcome any movement toward the three Quartet (EU, UN, US and Russia) principles: renounce violence; recognise Israel; and accept previous agreements, including the Roadmap. We are aware of reports that an agreement has been reached between Hamas and Fatah. We await an official announcement and further details. We will judge Hamas by their actions. We urge all parties to find a way back to negotiations, which are the best way of ensuring a lasting peace.
I
refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Prime
Minister gave the right hon. and
learned Member for North-East Fife (Sir Menzies Campbell) on 28 June
2006, Official Report,column
255.
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of Statefor Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Israeli authorities about the detention of elected Palestinian representatives. [82611]
Mr. McCartney [holding answer 4 July 2006]: At the G8 Foreign Ministers meeting in Moscow on 29 June, G8 Foreign Ministers called on Israel to exercise utmost restraint in the current crisis. They also expressed their concerns over the detention of elected members of the Palestinian Government and legislature.
On 30 June the EU raised its concerns
“about the detention of elected members of the Palestinian Government and legislature. Those detained should be accorded their full legal rights”.
We have made no representations to the Israeli authorities on their behalf.
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information she has received on the (a) names of the members of the Palestinian Parliament and Cabinet who have been recently arrested by the Israeli authorities and (b) (i) where, (ii) on what charges and (iii) under what legal authority they are being detained. [82618]
Mr. McCartney [holding answer 4 July 2006]: Local media has reported that the names of the arrested members of the Palestinian Government are as follows: Omar Abdel Razeq, Dr. Samir Abu-Aisha, Khaled Abu-Arafeh, Wasfi Kabaha, Issa Al- Ja’bari, Fakhri Turkman, Sheikh Nayef Al-Rjoub, Muhammad Bargouti, Basem Za’raier, Khalil Raba’I, Samir Al-Kadi, Muhammad al-Tal, Muhamad abu-Jheishah, Muhammad Bader, Anwar Zboun, Mahmoud Al-Kahtib, Wael Al-Husseini, Muhammad Abu-Teir, Ahmad Atoun, Husni Bureini, Riyad Amli, Yassir Mansour, Ibrahim Dahbour, Ibrahim Abu-Salem, Khaled Abu-Hassan, Khaled Yahia, Ryiad Raddad, Fathi Kara’wi, Imad Nofal, Naser Abdel-Jawad, Abdel-Jaber Fuqaha, Muhammad Totah and Ali Romanin. The arrests took place in the West Bank.
Individual charges against those detained have not been made public. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that the arrest of these people
“was taken within the context of a normal legal criminal procedure with the intention of questioning those who were arrested. They are suspected of criminal offences...that constitute a violation of the law according to the Ordinance for the Prevention of Terrorism”.
Israel has said that those arrested will be entitled to legal defence and that
“in the event that there is no basis for putting someone among those arrested on trial, that person will be released”.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |