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9 Oct 2006 : Column 429W—continued
Departmental Equipment
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what equipment her Department has (a) misplaced and (b) had stolen in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan in the last three years; and at what estimated cost. [89777]
Dr. Howells: The only major items of equipment that have been reported as either misplaced or lost in Iraq in the last three years are:
three satellite phones. Their combined value was £2,097.36. As a result of the loss the Foreign and Commonwealth Office incurred telephone charges of £594,370.99;
and one mobile telephone, value £100.
There have been no reported losses or thefts of equipment in Afghanistan.
Departmental Publications
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) circulation, (b) cost and (c) title is of each publication her Department has issued since 1 July 2005. [89480]
Mr. Hoon: A list of publications produced by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is included in the departmental report each year. This is available on the FCO website at:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029395438.
Circulation figures and the individual production cost of each of the publications could only be collated at a disproportionate cost.
East Timor
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the situation in East Timor following the escape of prisoners including rebel leader Alfredo Reinado; and if she will support Australian efforts to prepare for a new United Nations mission in the country. [92337]
Mr. McCartney: Major Alfredo Reinado and 56 prisoners escaped from Becora prison in Dili during the afternoon of 30 August. As yet the prisoners remain fugitives and international police, together with the military joint taskforce, have mounted a large-scale search operation to find them. While the jailbreak is a matter of serious concern, the general security situation in East Timor has stabilised significantly.
We fully support the Australian taskforce and welcome UN Security Council resolution 1704 on the mandate for the new UN Mission to East Timor (UNMIT) which was agreed on 25 August. The UK played a key role in ensuring that the UNMIT mandate provides for robust support for East Timor at this crucial time, following the recent unrest. The Mission will focus on areas with the potential to lead to instability, including reconciliation, policing and capacity-building in governance, as well as crucial support to the elections scheduled for 2007. It also provides for an international police component within the Mission and an international military security force operating separately to the UN Mission. We hope that these measures will help East Timor move towards stability and reconciliation.
EU Commissioner for Migration
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the case for the creation of an EU Commissioner for Migration. [91177]
Mr. Hoon [holding answer 18 September 2006]: Franco Frattini, Vice-President of the Commission, is Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security, and has responsibility for EU immigration and asylum policy. The UK is not aware of any proposals to create an EU Commissioner for Migration.
The President of the Commission, President Barroso, recently wrote to European Heads of state and government announcing that he had set up a special group in the Commission, chaired by Vice-President Frattini, that would bring together Commissioners from a variety of relevant policy areas to discuss EU migration policy. Better co-ordination across the Commission on existing work in this area could be helpful, and we welcome President Barroso’s proposal. We hope that it will indeed lead to a more coherent and effective approach to managing migration into the EU.
European Constitution
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the progress of the European Constitution. [92500]
Mr. Hoon: There is no current consensus on the way forward for the European Constitutional Treaty. Since the French and Dutch “No” votes last year, the Government have made it consistently clear that this is not a decision for one member state alone. It is for the 25 member states together to make decisions about the future of the Treaty.
The June European Council agreed that the forthcoming German Presidency will present a report to the European Council in June 2007 based on extensive consultations with member states, with decisions on how to continue the reform process to be taken by the end of 2008. There is no presumption as to the outcome or end-date of this process.
Extradition
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations she has made to the United States Administration on ratification of reciprocal extradition arrangements. [89772]
Mr. McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not made any recent representations to the United States Administration about the ratification of the UK/US Extradition Treaty. However, staff from our Embassy in Washington have raised the matter with members of the Senate and Administration on numerous occasions in the last few months. The US Senate has now given its advice and consent to ratification of the Treaty.
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations she has made to the government of the Republic of Ireland in relation to the ratification by the United States of reciprocal extradition arrangements with the UK. [89773]
Mr. McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not made any representations to the Government of the Republic of Ireland in relation to the ratification of the UK/US Extradition Treaty. The US Senate has now given its advice and consent to ratification of the Treaty.
Forced Marriages
Mr. Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what research she has conducted on whether there is a link between forced marriages and honour killings; and if she will make a statement. [89187]
Dr. Howells: The Government acknowledge that domestic violence includes culturally specific forms of harm, which include forced marriage and ‘honour’ based or related violence, including murder in the name of honour.
The Home Office Police Standards Unit (PSU) have been working closely with the Association of Chief Police Officers and the National Centre for Policing Excellence to raise the awareness of police officers and staff in relation to the identification and investigation of ‘honour’ related violence.
The PSU has been promoting the use of a Risk Assessment toolkit for domestic violence incidents which includes the presence of factors in relation to so-called ‘honour’ crimes such as separation/ child contact, pregnancy, escalation, community awareness/isolation, stalking, and sexual offences. The PSU and the Metropolitan Police Service held an International Conference on Honour Related Violence on 21-22 March in London to examine the extent of ‘honour’ based violence and encourage the development of partnerships between agencies. It also looked at how to intervene to prevent harm to those at risk, consider education, and raise awareness of national guidance.
The Metropolitan Police Homicide Prevention Unit has produced a report on the strategic scope of forced marriage, which examined reported incidents of forced marriage and related crimes, and aimed to support the work and analysis of the ‘Murder in the Name of So-called Honour’ Strategic Homicide Prevention Working Group. All police forces in England and Wales are developing honour-based violence action plans. The police services in England and Wales continue to conduct intelligence and analysis work on honour based violence (of which forced marriage is an aspect).
Mr. Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what powers she has to declare forced marriages null and void; and if she will make a statement. [89188]
Dr. Howells: The Government have made clear that forced marriage is an abuse of human rights and can, in certain circumstances, be a form of domestic violence or child abuse. Those forcing their children into marriage can be prosecuted for a range of criminal offences under the criminal law.
The voluntary consent of both parties is necessary for a valid marriage. If someone is forced into marriage, the marriage is voidable under s.12 Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 on the grounds of lack of valid consent. Victims of forced marriage can submit a nullity petition to the court and obtain a decree of nullity.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps she is taking to tackle forced marriages. [89710]
Dr. Howells: The Government take forced marriage very seriously and carry out a range of activities to combat this abuse of human rights. Our dedicated Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) has a team of caseworkers who help around 300 people a year, both male and female, who are facing forced marriage in the United Kingdom and abroad. If a British national is forced into a marriage abroad, we offer them consular assistance, including help to return to the UK.
The FMU also develops policy to combat forced marriage. It has produced guidance on dealing with forced marriage for police, education professionals and social services. In September 2005, the unit held a
consultation on whether to make forced marriage a specific criminal offence. In response to the consultation, we are taking forward further activities, such as increasing training to professionals who work in this field, increasing the work we do with statutory agencies, making better use of civil remedies and the family courts and ensuring that existing legislation is fully implemented and contains no gaps.
We also work hard to raise awareness of the problem of forced marriage. Staff from the FMU regularly attend events to train professionals around the country. The FMU ran a national publicity campaign from March to July 2006 to raise awareness of the problem of forced marriage and the help available. Further information is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk/forcedmarriage.
Hungary
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the political situation in Hungary. [92498]
Mr. Hoon: It is not the policy of the Government to comment on the domestic political affairs of another EU member state. Hungary is an important partner for the UK and we look forward to continuing to work together through the EU and NATO, as well as bilaterally.
International Arms Treaty
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have taken place in the EU Council of Ministers on securing an international arms treaty; and if she will make a statement. [91312]
Dr. Howells: In October 2005 the EU Foreign Ministers underlined their support for an international treaty to establish common standards for the global trade in conventional arms, and called for the start of a formal process at the United Nations at the earliest opportunity. This message was reiterated in a statement made on 2 October by the EU Presidency at the UN First Committee. The statement committed the EU to supporting the draft resolution currently at the First Committee as a good way of starting this process. The UK will continue to work with the EU and other international partners to secure the necessary support for the draft resolution, to start the formal process towards a treaty at the UN General Assembly.
International Criminal Court
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the current status of the trial of John Taylor is before the International Criminal Court. [92332]
Mr. McCartney:
Charles Taylor is currently awaiting trial before a specially convened trial chamber of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, which will sit in The
Hague because of the unacceptably high security risks of holding and trying Taylor in Freetown. The Special Court has set a likely start date for the trial of 2 April 2007.
Iran
Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the UK’s latest assessment is of how close Iran is to developing nuclear weapons technology. [89949]
Dr. Howells: Iran is defying calls by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors and the UN Security Council to suspend all uranium enrichment related and reprocessing activities. These activities would enable Iran to develop the capability to produce fissile material that could be used in nuclear weapons. Iran has produced very small quantities of enriched uranium at its pilot fuel enrichment plant at Natanz, and is continuing enrichment related work including the installation of additional centrifuges.
We remain committed to a negotiated solution. We continue to urge Iran to take the steps required by the Security Council and IAEA Board, including a full suspension, and to return to talks on the basis of the proposals presented to Iran on 6 June by EU High Representative Javier Solana on behalf of the ‘E3+3’. In Resolution 1696, adopted on 31 July, the Security Council expressed its intention to adopt appropriate measures under Article 41 of the UN Charter if Iran does not comply.
Iraq/Afghanistan
Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of community-based media in Iraq; what her policy is on supporting and developing community-based media; and what monitoring of community-based media in Iraq is undertaken by her Department. [88629]
Dr. Howells: The UK plays a leading role in helping Iraqis to develop the media and telecommunications sector. Iraq's media are flourishing and are supported by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development (DFID) and the international community. We have helped to establish institutions such as the independent Iraqi National Communications and Media Commission—the first independent converged communications regulator in the Arab world—and al-iraqiya, the Iraqi Public Broadcasting service. There are over 80 radio stations and 21 television stations broadcasting in Iraq. About 250 newspapers and periodicals are published. These outlets represent all shades of Iraqi opinion.
DFID has supported training for Iraqi journalists, delivered by the Institute of War and Peace Reporting, and helped to develop independent media in the south of Iraq, through a £7.5 million programme run by the BBC World Service Trust. This programme funded the establishment of community-based radio and television in southern Iraq, which has established a strong reputation for fair, accurate reporting.
The Government continue to offer advice and assistance for the development of national media and telecommunications policy.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding the Government have allocated to the development of women’s role in Iraqi society in each year since 2003, broken down by project. [89910]
Dr. Howells: The UK is committed to the inclusion of women in all phases and at all levels in the reconstruction of Iraq and to ensure that they can participate in the political, civic and economic process of reconstruction. The following table shows the funding the Government have allocated to the development of women’s role in Iraqi society in each financial year since 2003-04.
In addition, Iraqi women have taken part in projects to develop specific professions, including training for lawyers, judges, government officials and forensic scientists. We aim to ensure that women are represented in all projects even if developing their role is not the principal objective. For example, the prison mentors employed to work with the Iraqi Correctional Service in south Iraq promote increases in the number of female Iraqi staff.
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