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Security Industry Approved Contractor Scheme
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his written statement of 16 February 2006, on the Private Security Industry Approved Contractor Scheme, what assessment he has made of whether companies that have obtained (a) UKAS Quality Assurance standards (EN 45012) or (b) UKAS Product Certification standards (EN 45011) specific to the security industry should be passported through to membership of the scheme. [59022]
Mr. Coaker: It is not currently possible for a company to achieve ACS accreditation via the passporting route. The SIA is currently in discussion with one certification body that is preparing an application for accreditation of a passport scheme. No other expressions of interest have been received to date.
Companies that meet standards that do not directly and exactly cover all the 89 indicators or that cover other criteria in more depth may be eligible for the Fast Track route. This includes companies that have met relevant quality assurance standards and product certification standards as assessed by a UKAS accredited body under EN 45011 and/or EN 45012.
Terrorism (Public Informants)
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures are in place to deal with information from the public about those suspected of terrorist acts or conspiracy to commit terrorist acts. [81891]
Mr. McNulty [holding answer 3 July 2006]: Any information about suspected terrorist activity should be passed to the police. There are a number of ways in which this can be done including the Anti-Terrorist Hotline. The Metropolitan Police Service Anti-Terrorist Branch would be informed in appropriate cases. Any information received by the Anti-Terrorist Branch is logged, assessed and prioritised formally on a daily basis. This process would include detailed inquiries to establish the veracity or otherwise of the information.
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether proper procedures were followed by the police and intelligence services when Mr. Martin Gilbertson approached West Yorkshire police in 2003 about Mohammed Siddique Khan and other individuals responsible for the terrorist attacks in London on 7 July 2005; why the police told Mr. Gilbertson to post the information rather than arranging to speak to a police officer; whether the information received was logged and properly dealt with; and if he will make a statement. [81892]
Mr. McNulty [holding answer 3 July 2006]: West Yorkshire police have released a press statement confirming that they have no knowledge of any contact with Mr. Gilbertson prior to 7 July 2005 in relation to the matters raised by him. West Yorkshire police have informed us that Mr. Gilbertson continues to assist officers as part of the overall investigation into the7 July bombings.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Afghanistan
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of progress towards achieving prosecutions in Afghanistan for those involved in the trafficking of narcotics. [82857]
Mr.
McCartney: Since August 2005, over 460 individuals have
been arrested on suspicion of drugs related offences in Afghanistan.
Prosecutors have handled over 350 cases and over 150 individuals have
been convicted. This progress is being supported by
improvements to the criminal justice system infrastructure, including
the establishment of dedicated and secure narcotics courts and prison
facilities. A counter narcotics Criminal Justice Task Force of 80
Afghan investigators, prosecutors and judges has been established to
work with the Counter Narcotics Police of Afghanistan specifically to
conduct drugs prosecutions. New Afghan counter narcotics legislation
was adopted in December 2005. The new law gives wide-ranging powers for
prosecution of drugs offenders, covering both those transporting drugs
and those facilitating or conspiring to do so, and sets out stringent
minimum sentences for drug trafficking offences and tough sentences for
public officials interfering in
cases.
Amazonian Deforestation Project
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what companies are involved in the Amazonian Deforestation Soya Certification Project in the Para region, Brazil; what proportion come from the region; and if she will make a statement. [82575]
Mr. McCartney: Cargill is the only company involved in the Amazon Deforestation Soya Certification Project. It is a US based privately owned company with regional offices in Santarem, State of Para, Brazil. Approximately 300 local Brazilian producers supply Cargill with soya. All these producers participate in the Amazon Deforestation Soya Certification Project. The project works intensively with approximately 20 of these producers.
British Embassies/High Commissions
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the locations are of British embassies and high commissions staffed by only one UK-based diplomat. [82084]
Mr. Hoon: Two British high commissions are staffed by a single UK-based diplomat. They are in St. John’s (Antigua and Barbuda) and Castries (St. Lucia). Our embassy to the Holy See is also staffed by one UK-based officer.
In addition, the following subordinate posts are staffed by one UK-based diplomat:
British Embassy Office, Abijan
The Administrator’s Office, Ascension Island
British Consulate-General, Auckland
British Embassy Office, Banja Luka
British Consulate-General, Bordeaux
Embassy Office, Conakry
British Consulate-General, Lille
British Consulate-General, Lyon
British Consulate, Monrovia
British Consulate, Nagoya
Pitcairn Islands Administration, Pitcairn
The Administrator’s Office, Tristan de Cunha.
Burma
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of whether the recent move of the Burmese capital is related to the development of a nuclear site in the vicinity. [83206]
Mr. McCartney: We were formally notified of the Burmese authorities’ decision to relocate the seat of administration to Pyinmana on 7 November 2005. The State Peace and Development Council claims that moving to a more central location will enable the Government to carry out the development of the whole nation more effectively. We have no evidence that the move was related to the development of a nuclear site in the vicinity.
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports the Government have received on the use of chemical weapons by the regime in Burma. [83208]
Mr. McCartney: In 2005 we looked into allegations that the Burmese regime had used chemical weapons against Karenni fighters but there was no hard evidence to confirm this. Since then we have not received any further reports.
International Atomic Energy Agency
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with her (a) US and (b) European counterparts on the reinstating of International Atomic Energy Agency verification and monitoring activities in Iraq; and if she will make a statement. [82860]
Mr. McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not had discussions with her US or European counterparts on this issue.
There are two distinct International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) activities in Iraq. The IAEA’s first mandate is to continue to implement safeguards in Iraq under an agreement pursuant to the global Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
The IAEA’s second mandate in Iraq derives from authority of the UN Security Council under the auspices of adopted Resolution 687 in 1991. This included the establishing of an international inspection regime for disarming Iraq of weapons of mass destruction; in particular to uncover, map, monitor and neutralise Iraq's clandestine nuclear weapons programme. The IAEA, through its Iraq Nuclear Verification Office (INVO), remains responsible for this aspect of the nuclear file in Iraq.
On 17 March
2003, the IAEA and all other UN organisations suspended field
activities in Iraq ahead of the announced military operations. During
this interruption of inspections, INVO has focused its activities on
consolidating and further analysing the information collected, with the
objective of identifying lessons learned for the future and determining
to what extent the Agency’s plan for resuming verification
activities needs to be adapted in light of those lessons and the
changing situation in Iraq. Periodic reports are filed with the UN
Security Council. The IAEA has stated that it remains prepared to
resume its field and related activities in Iraq, pending guidance from
the UN Security
Council.
Iraq
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has received from her US counterpart regarding the statement by the US Commander of Multinational Forces in Iraq that covert Iranian special forces are providing weapons, roadside bomb technology and training to Shi'ite extremist groups; and if she will make a statement. [82856]
Mr. McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discusses the situations in Iran and Iraq frequently with Dr. Rice. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has said, the nature of some explosive devices used in Iraq, including against British troops, leads us to either Iranian elements or Lebanese Hezbollah, which has close connections with Iran. We continue to investigate. We have repeatedly made our concerns clear to the Iranians in the strongest terms.
Israel
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what monitoring, beyond seeking information from Israel, is being undertaken by the UK Government to ascertain whether military equipment supplied directly to Israel, or components which are supplied to a third country but which have been re-exported or diverted to Israel, are being used in the military incursions by Israelinto Gaza and the West Bank which commenced on27 June; and if she will make a statement. [83291]
Mr. McCartney: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 5 July (UIN 82166). Our embassy in Tel Aviv monitors local developments taking account of information from all relevant sources which might indicate that military equipment from the UK or other suppliers has been used in a manner inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. All relevant information obtained would be taken into consideration as appropriate in the thorough assessment of any future export licensing decisions.
Journalists (China)
Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on reports of restrictions being placed on journalists by the Chinese Government. [82827]
Mr.
McCartney: The Government are very concerned about the
apparent hardening of Chinese policy on freedom of expression,
including on journalists and in relation to the internet. We regularly
raise these concerns with the Chinese Government and make clear our view
that freedom of information is essential to the development of a
modern, stable and sustainable
society.
Freedom of expression was a particular focus of the May 2006 round of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue. The EU also made representations to the Chinese Government on this issue in Beijing on 27 June 2006. Several individual cases of concern were raised on both occasions and at the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue in Beijing on 3 July 2006. I will discuss media freedom issues with the Chinese Government and foreign correspondents during my forthcoming visit to China.
Kashmir
Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps her Department is taking to help resolve the dispute over Kashmir. [82692]
Mr. McCartney [holding answer 5 July 2006]: My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Kim Howells, discussed Kashmir with the Pakistani Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz, during his visit to the UK in March 2006. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister discussed Kashmir with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to India in September 2005. My right hon. Friend the then Foreign Secretary (Mr. Straw) discussed Kashmir with Indian and Pakistani counterparts during his visit to both countries in February 2005. Officials in both countries also regularly discuss the situation in Kashmir with Indian and Pakistani Ministers and officials.
The Government fully supports the ongoing Composite Dialogue between India and Pakistan, which includes the issue of Kashmir. We will continue to urge both countries to seek a lasting solution to their dispute over Kashmir, which takes into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
Kosovo
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations her Department has made to ensure that the protection of minorities is properly provided for in the final status arrangements for Kosovo. [82299]
Mr. Hoon: The UK continues to stress to the Kosovo Government the need to focus on delivering UN-endorsed standards relevant to minority communities in Kosovo, and to create the conditions for a multi-ethnic Kosovo. In mid-June the Contact Group (United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Russia, together with EU representatives) Head of Missions in Pristina presented a list to the Kosovo Government of priority standards, including minority rights, where we expected to see progress.
The Contact
Group ministerial statement of31 January and the UN-endorsed
Guiding Principles
make clear that the final status outcome should offer effective
constitutional guarantees to assure the protection of minorities,
including mechanisms to ensure their participation in central
government and in the new local administrative structures. There should
also be robust arrangements for patrimonial sites. Both of these
documents can be found in the Library of the
House.
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations her Department has made to ensure that the protection of religious and cultural sites is properly provided for in the final status arrangements for Kosovo. [82300]
Mr. Hoon: In mid-April, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Balkans co-ordinator held a meeting with Mr. Astrit Haraqia, the Kosovo Minister of Culture, and reiterated the importance of protecting and preserving Kosovo’s cultural heritage.
UN Status Envoy, Martti Ahtisaari, held talks on23 May 2006 between Belgrade and Pristina on the protection of cultural and religious heritage sites. A further meeting is due to be held on 17 July 2006. The UK welcomes these meetings and hopes that agreement on this issue can be reached soon.
The UK recognises that the protection of religious and cultural sites will be a key issue during the final status process. The Contact Group’s UN-endorsed Guiding Principles refer to the need for any settlement to include specific safeguards for the protection of the cultural and religious heritage in Kosovo, and provisions specifying the Status of the Serbian Orthodox Church’s institutions and sites in Kosovo. These Guiding Principles are there to support the work of the UN Status Envoy and have been placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government’s policy is on the final status of Kosovo; and if she will make a statement. [82301]
Mr. Hoon: The Government’s policy on Kosovo’s final status is set out in the Contact Group ministerial statement of 31 January 2006 and the UN-endorsed Guiding Principles.
The Contact Group ministerial statement makes clear that the final status process for Kosovo should be concluded during 2006, that there were a distinct set of circumstances that distinguished Kosovo from other disputed areas and that any settlement needed to be acceptable to the people of Kosovo.
The UN-endorsed Guiding Principles exist to support the UN Status Envoy. They make clear that there should be no partition of, or in Kosovo, and no union of Kosovo with any country or part of any other country after the solution of Kosovo’s final status.
Both of these documents have been placed in the Library of the House.
Montenegro
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans she has to exchange diplomatic missions with Montenegro; and who will take up the position of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the state. [83113]
Mr. Hoon: On 13 June 2006, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary wrote to Montenegrin Foreign Minister Vlahovic to propose the establishment of diplomatic relations between the UK and Montenegro, and to announce our intention to upgrade the British Office in Podgorica to an embassy as soon as is practicable. Our ambassador in Belgrade will be responsible for relations with Montenegro until the resident ambassador has been appointed.
Constitutional Affairs
Canon Law
David Simpson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assurances have (a) been sought and (b) received from the new ambassador to the Vatican that at all times he will place UK law above Canon law. [77299]
Mr. Hoon: I have been asked to reply.
All Heads of British Diplomatic Missions are bound by Diplomatic Service Regulations which are made under powers vested in the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by the Diplomatic Service Order in Council 1991 (as amended). These include a Code of Ethics, the Diplomatic Service Code, which makes clear that the duty of all members of the Diplomatic Service is to the duly constituted Government of the United Kingdom. The Code also includes
“the duty to comply with the law, including international law and treaty obligations, and to uphold the administration of justice”.
This includes the applicable law of the UK and any international legal obligations of the UK. Without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, diplomats are also required by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations to respect the laws of the receiving State.
Courts Service
Mr. Burrowes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether an impact assessment was carried out prior to the decision to implement changes in the Courts Service’s budget. [79008]
Ms Harman: With regards to the impact assessment, all parts of HMCS worked up plans to see how they could make savings that would enable them to live within the set budget, while maintaining the services HMCS delivers to its customers and minimising impacts for staff and jobs.
Departmental Hospitality
David Simpson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will keep a separate record of the amount spent annually by her Department on alcohol for hospitality purposes. [77298]
Vera Baird: My Department records in its accounting system all expenditure incurred for hospitality purposes in total. It does not allow for the information to be broken down specifically for alcohol expenditure.
All expenditure incurred by DCA is done so in accordance with the principles set out in Government Accounting and supported by the Department’s published internal guidance.
Departmental Travel
Mr. Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional 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. [81397]
Bridget Prentice: All central Government ministerial and official air travel is being offset from 1 April 2006. Departmental aviation emissions are calculated on an annual basis and subsequently offset through payments to a central fund. The fund purchases Certified Emissions Reductions credits from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with sustainable development benefits, located in developing countries.
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