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9 Oct 2006 : Column 446W—continued
"Hezbollah does not act alone. As other speakers have said, behind it, lending support and giving direction, are Syria and
Iran. Syria provides material support to Hezbollah and facilitates the transfer of weapons, including thousands of missiles, which appear to be supplied by Iran to Hezbollah. Ultimately, long-term stability will be possible only if Syria and Iran end their interference in Lebanese internal affairs, in accordance with resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006)".
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the UK are taking with the United Nations to bring about a cessation of violence in the Middle East. [90007]
Dr. Howells: Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah were the subject of intense diplomatic activity in which my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary and I were all heavily engaged. On 10 August, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary flew to New York to work with international partners towards resolution of the outstanding difficulties. On 11 August the UN Security Council was able unanimously to adopt its resolution 1701, which aims to secure the conditions for sustainable, durable ceasefire that would prevent a return to the conflict and the status quo that preceded it.
The UK worked hard to secure UN Security Council resolution 1701. The cessation of hostilities thereby established has largely held. UK effort has since been focused on ensuring the ceasefire holds and a long-term solution is developed. This includes assistance with the humanitarian and reconstruction needs of the Lebanese people, as well as enhancing the ability of the Government of Lebanon to take and maintain full control of its territory.
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of actions taken by Iran and Syria in relation to terrorist groups operating against Israel on regional stability and security. [90008]
Dr. Howells: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr Dismore) today (UIN 89956).
Mr. Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her assessment is of the threat posed to regional stability by Hezbollah's attacks against Israel; and what measures are available to the international community to enforce resolution 1559 and disarm all Lebanese militia. [90138]
Dr. Howells: Hezbollah and its backers, Syria and Iran, pose a very significant threat to the stability of the Middle East. Syria's and Iran's support for Hezbollah and its attacks on Israel encourage extremism and put peace in the Middle East further out of reach.
We urge the international community to continue to support the Government of Lebanon in implementing all UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs), including 1559, 1680 and 1701, which are aimed at disarming Hezbollah, creating a Lebanon which is genuinely sovereign and democratic and in which the government controls the whole of its territory. The international community should continue to call on
Syria and Iran to stop their support for Hezbollah and end their interference in Lebanese internal affairs in accordance with UNSCRs 1559, 1680 and 1701.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the UK is taking together with the United Nations to bring a cessation of violence in the Middle East and to implement an international peace keeping force to ensure the safety of Israel's northern border. [90144]
Dr. Howells: Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah were the subject of intense diplomatic activity in which my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary and I were all heavily engaged. On 10 August my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary flew to New York to work with international partners towards resolution of the outstanding difficulties. On 11 August the UN Security Council was able unanimously to adopt its Resolution 1701, which aims to secure the conditions for sustainable, durable ceasefire that would prevent a return to the conflict and the status quo that preceded it.
The UK worked hard to secure UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1701. The cessation of hostilities thereby established has largely held. UK effort has since been focused on ensuring the ceasefire holds and a long term solution is developed. This includes assistance with the humanitarian and reconstruction needs of the Lebanese people, as well as enhancing the ability of the Government of Lebanon to take and maintain full control of its territory.
Urgent work has been undertaken to strengthen the UN Force in Lebanon in order to carry out the range of important new tasks set out in UNSCR 1701. Due to our current operational commitments elsewhere, we will not be able to provide ground troops. But the UK has sent HMS York to participate in the Interim Maritime Force and we would consider providing, in addition, two E3 AWACS and six Jaguar aircraft if needed. We are willing to respond positively to requests to use our Sovereign Base areas on Cyprus. We are also paying our share of the costs of the UN operation, on which we pay a premium as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Ministerial Duties (Background Reading)
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what publications have been provided by her civil servants as background reading for her ministerial duties since taking office; and if she will make a statement. [87591]
Margaret Beckett: On taking up my current Ministerial post I received a pack with background material on the policy areas of the Department. I continue to receive reading material on all policy areas as appropriate.
Ministerial Visits (Accommodation)
David Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2006, Official Report, column 840W, on ministerial visits (accommodation), how she ensures
that the (a) number of overnight stays, (b) standard of hotel and (c) cost of overnight stays for (i) civil servants, (ii) special advisers and (iii) Ministers complies with the guidelines for her Department’s staff. [89216]
Mr. Hoon: For official travel overseas the local British diplomatic mission usually books and pays for hotel rooms. The mission’s accounts are subject to scrutiny by the independent audit staff of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Where individual travellers book their own hotel rooms and then submit claims with receipts for reimbursement, they sign to acknowledge that, if they submit an account with intent to mislead or defraud, they are liable to disciplinary action and/or prosecution. In addition, we check each claim totalling £100 or more against the FCO’s guidelines to ensure compliance.
NATO
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representatives from the UK will be sent to the 2006 North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Summit in Riga, Latvia. [89778]
Mr. Hoon: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will represent the UK at the 2006 NATO Summit in Riga, Latvia. Other Ministers and Government officials will support him, but the exact make up of the Delegation is yet to be confirmed. The composition will depend on the agenda for the summit, which is still being negotiated.
Nepal
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the progress being made in negotiations between the Prime Minister of Nepal and Maoist rebels; and if she will make a statement. [89506]
Dr. Howells: Some progress has been made towards peace since the formation of the seven party government, and the reinstatement of Parliament, in April 2006. But the peace process remains fragile.
In August 2006 the Government of Nepal and the Maoists each requested UN assistance in support of the peace process, including management of arms. In response, the UN Secretary-General appointed Ian Martin as his personal representative for Nepal in August 2006. The UK supports a role for the UN, and has allocated approximately £3.4 Million from the Global Conflict Prevention Pool to assist the peace process through projects supporting ceasefire monitoring, the UN, and preparing for a Constituent Assembly.
Peace negotiations have made some progress. But the issue of arms management has yet to be resolved. The Maoists have yet to show they are serious about making the transition to a democratic party and have called for protests against the government.
During my visit to Nepal from 26-28 September 2006, I expressed my support to the Government of Nepal and urged the Prime Minister to make good use of the UN’s expertise. I made clear to the Government of Nepal that we cannot support a Maoist party in
government unless they make a concrete demonstration of their democratic credentials and commit to laying down their weapons. I urged both sides to work to build mutual confidence in advance of the next round of summit talks scheduled for 8 October 2006.
Niger
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications of the imprisonment of Maman Abou and Omar Keita Lalo for human rights observance in Niger; and what representations she has made to promote freedom of speech in that country. [92116]
Mr. McCartney: We are aware of the imprisonment of Mr. Abou and Mr. Lalo following their conviction for defamation of the Nigerien Prime Minister. EU Heads of Mission have raised their concerns over this action with the Nigerien government and have urged the repeal of the ‘Offence by the Press’ Law under which Mr. Abou and Mr. Lalo were convicted, and which is disproportionate in its response to defamation. The UK will continue to monitor the case with our EU colleagues, and make further representations as necessary.
Freedom of expression is fundamental to a functioning democracy. The UK urges appropriate, and proportionate, alterations to criminal defamation laws in Niger.
Nigeria
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence she has received on the practice of religious cleansing by Muslim extremists in Northern and Central Nigeria; what recent representations she has made to the federal government on such religious cleansing; and if she will make a statement. [89500]
Mr. McCartney: Conflict and tension between religious communities in Nigeria is a serious issue. However, we have not received any evidence of religious cleansing. Nigeria is a diverse, federal state and conflicts continue to occur over many issues. The root causes of conflict in northern and central Nigeria include socio-economic and political factors, as well as religious issues. We continue to engage on the importance of religious tolerance with the Nigeria Government and take up specific allegations of religious conflict where they are credible and verified.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the government of Nigeria on (a) attacks on churches and (b) the role of the Federal Capital Development Authority. [89501]
Mr. McCartney:
We have not held recent discussions with the Government of Nigeria on attacks on churches. However, we take every opportunity to raise concerns about religious conflict and human rights generally in Nigeria with the federal and state authorities and senior leaders from all faiths in that
country. Nigeria is a diverse, federal state and conflicts can occur over many issues. The root causes include socio-economic and political as well as religious factors. We continue to engage the Nigerian Government on the importance of religious tolerance and take up specific allegations of religious conflict where they are credible and verified. We also support initiatives to build trust between Nigeria’s religious communities.
Officials from the our high commission in Abuja regularly meet with Nasir El Rufai, Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, who oversees the Federal Capital Development Authority. My noble Friend the Leader of the House of Lords, Baroness Amos, also met the Minister during an official visit to Abuja on 1 August.
Palestine
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the situation in Gaza; and what representations the Government have made to the Palestinian President to encourage the release of captured soldier Corporal Gilad Shalit and a cessation of Quassam rocket fire out of the strip. [89960]
Dr. Howells: We remain concerned about the continuing Qassam rocket fire from Gaza on Israeli civilian targets. We have called on the Palestinian Authority to prevent all terrorist attacks, including these rocket attacks, and to work towards the release of captured Israeli soldier Corporal Shalit. We welcome the work Palestinian President Abbas is doing to achieve this. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister discussed the issue of Qassam rockets with President Abbas on 10 September.
We are extremely concerned by violent clashes in Gaza, and the high number of casualties. All violence is an obstacle to peace in the region. We support President Abbas' call for an end to the violence, withdrawal of militias from the streets and the restoration of order by legally constituted security forces using appropriate force.
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her latest assessment is of the willingness of Hamas to move towards meeting the conditions of the international community for donor funding. [90006]
Dr. Howells: We remain deeply concerned that neither the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority, nor Hamas as a movement, have committed to the Quartet’s (EU, US, UN and Russia) three principles: to renounce violence, recognise Israel and accept all previous agreements and obligations.
As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear during his visit to the region on 9-11 September, we would be ready to re-engage with a Palestinian Government, if it is based on the Quartet principles.
Mr. Spellar:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her latest assessment is of the willingness of Hamas to move towards
meeting the conditions of the international community for donor funding. [90265]
Dr. Howells: I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the member for West Lancashire (Rosie Cooper) today (UIN 90006).
Passports
Mr. Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British passport holders, including dual nationality passport holders, she estimates live abroad, broken down by country. [89285]
Dr. Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Clegg) on 15 June 2006, Official Report, columns 1373-75W of British passport holders living overseas, broken down by country. I also refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Kettering (Mr. Hollobone) on 22 March 2006, Official Report, columns 419-20W.
Romania
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK visitor visas were issued to people from Romania in each month since 2001. [92158]
Dr. Howells: The number of visit visas issued to Romanian Nationals in each month since 2001 are in the following tables.
| Visit visas issued (excludes family visits) | ||||||
| 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | |
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