| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
10 Oct 2006 : Column 674W—continued
Consultants
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total value was of contracts entered into by her Department with (a) ER consultants and (b) Praesta in each of the last three years; and which Ministers have made use of their services. [91988]
Mr. Hoon: Praesta’s Partners LLP total value of contracts with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in each of the last three financial years is as follows:
| £ | |
These contracts did not involve Ministers.
The FCO has not contracted work from ER consultants.
Departmental Child Care Facilities
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which of her Department’s premises have childcare facilities on site. [89476]
Mr. Hoon: There are two on-site nurseries located in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Main Building and Hanslope Park, Milton Keynes.
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there are waiting lists for places at childcare facilities which her Department provides for its employees. [89477]
Mr. Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office nursery in King Charles Street has four waiting lists, broken down in the following categories: under one; under two; over two; and over three.
The under one list is the longest with 17 parents currently waiting. For the rest, there are six parents in the under twos and nine in the over twos. There is currently no waiting list for the over threes.
The Nursery in Hanslope Park, Milton Keynes also has four waiting lists as follows: three months—one year; one—two years; two—three years; and three—school age.
Only the three months—one year list is currently operating with 10 parents waiting.
International Criminal Court
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps she is taking to ensure that Joseph Kony and his supporters are brought before the International Criminal Court. [92334]
Dr. Howells: In July 2004, the International Criminal Court (ICC) launched an investigation into the situation in Northern Uganda, following referral of the situation by the Government of Uganda. The ICC issued warrants for the arrest of five Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) commanders, including Joseph Kony, in October 2005. Raska Lukwiya, one of the indictees, is believed to have been killed in August 2006.
The UK is a strong supporter—in principle and in practice—of the ICC. We believe it is imperative to tackle impunity, to deter others taking up arms and terrorising civilians.
Responsibility to effect the arrest warrants lies in the first instance with the states on whose territory the LRA commanders are believed to be—in this case, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
We continue to urge all parties, in particular the Governments of Uganda, the DRC and Sudan to fulfil their commitments to the ICC and we welcome the fact that these Governments are co-operating with the Court.
Iran
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the International Atomic Energy Agency is next expected to report on the implementation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty Safeguards Agreement in the Islamic Republic of Iran. [89160]
Margaret Beckett: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General, Dr. Mohammed El-Baradei, issued a report on 31 August 2006, as requested in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1696. This was discussed by the IAEA Board of Governors on 11 September and published on 14 September. The report (GOV/2006/53) can be found on the IAEA’s website at www.iaea.org. Dr. El-Baradei has not said when he next plans to report and the Security Council has not yet made another specific request.
Dr. El-Baradei’s report indicates that Iran is not co-operating adequately with the IAEA and has not taken the steps required by the IAEA Board and the Security Council, including suspending fully its uranium enrichment-related and reprocessing activities. This is of deep concern. With our international partners, we are now considering next steps.
Iran will be discussed at the next IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, which will begin on 23 November.
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on UK policy in dealing with Iran’s nuclear plans. [91771]
Dr. Howells: Iran’s nuclear activities are of great concern. The nature of the Iranian programme, Iran’s history of concealment and its continuing failure to co-operate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have intensified international concerns that the aims may not be, as Iran claims, entirely peaceful.
Despite intense and prolonged efforts to encourage Iran to take the steps required by the IAEA Board of Governors and the UN Security Council, Iran has not done so. The most recent report by the IAEA Director-General, Dr. Mohammed El-Baradei, makes clear that Iran has not suspended its uranium enrichment-related and reprocessing activities. In Resolution 1696, adopted on 31 July, the Security Council made a full suspension mandatory on Iran.
On 6 June, EU High Representative Javier Solana presented to Iran a set of far reaching proposals on behalf of the E3+3 (UK, France, Germany and China, Russia, US). These would give Iran everything it needs to develop a modern nuclear power industry, and other benefits, while addressing international concerns. We are disappointed that Iran has not taken the steps required to enable negotiations to begin.
In Resolution 1696, the Security Council expressed its intention to take appropriate measures under Article 41 of the UN Charter—which might include sanctions—if Iran failed to comply. Together with our partners, we are presently considering next steps. The E3+3 proposals remain on the table, and if Iran meets the requirements of the IAEA Board and Security Council, we are prepared to suspend further activity in the Security Council. But if it does not, Iran should be in no doubt that the Security Council will respond.
Israel
Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Minister for Trade’s statement in the Westminster Hall Debate on Israel (War against Terror) of 4 July 2006, Official Report, column 223WH, when the Minister for Trade will write to the hon. Member for Lichfield; and if he will include an answer on whether the political wing of Hezbollah will be proscribed. [89322]
Dr. Howells: My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs will write to the hon. Member for Lichfield shortly, and will include an answer to the question on Hezbollah.
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps diplomats at the UK Consulate-General in Jerusalem have taken since June 2005 to monitor conditions in the community of Jayyous. [92361]
Dr. Howells: Our Consulate-General in Jerusalem continues to monitor developments in the west bank and Gaza, including in Jayyous, closely. The Consulate- General works closely with the UN and receives regular updates from non-governmental organisations who make field observations. In addition to this, the Consulate-General make their own visits to places in the west bank. We remain deeply concerned by the closure regime in the west bank, including the impact of the barrier. In Jayyous, as in many parts of the west bank, the route of the barrier has cut Palestinian farmers off from the land and transport of agricultural produce to west bank markets is hindered by tight Israeli closure policies.
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions since June 2005 diplomats at the UK Consulate-General in Jerusalem have made representations to the Israeli government regarding conditions in the community of Jayyous. [92362]
Dr. Howells: Our Consulate-General in Jerusalem has not made any representations to the Israeli Government about the community in Jayyous, as they deal primarily with our bilateral relations with the Palestinian Authority. However, an official from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office last raised freedom of movement issues with the Israeli embassy in London on 4 October. Our embassy in Tel Aviv regularly raises these issues with the Israeli Government. We have not raised the community of Jayyous specifically with the Government of Israel.
Romania
Mr. Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what part the Department has played in helping to oversee the reform of child care as part of the conditions for the entry of Romania into the EU; and if she will make a statement. [89644]
Mr. Hoon: The UK’s operational assistance to Romania’s reform process has been through a project run by the Department for International Development (DFID). DFID led the £1.8 million project to assist and support the Romanian Government and specifically the National Authority for Child Protection and Adoption (NACPA) in addressing the needs of children, particularly those in the care system. This ran from October 2000 to February 2005.
Specific outputs of the project included a draft Children’s Act prepared; adoption legislation passed and implemented; professional guidelines for implementation of new adoption laws in place and implemented; integrated child care policy developed and implemented; and support for the NACPA regarding human resources strategy and appropriate structures for discharging responsibilities.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s part in assisting in the reform process has been through the proactive role played by our embassy in Bucharest in the following completed projects:
Programme targeted at street children and children from dysfunctional families to improve social and interpersonal skills through art therapy (music, theatre and painting);
Catalysis Income Generation and Employment project:
Project for 18-year-old children who are forced to leave the institutionalised care offered by the state, aiming to teach them professional and social skills (cooking, cleaning, housekeeping, etc.); and
Therapy through Art Association:
Programme provided psycho-diagnosis and rehabilitation services to children with disabilities in a daily centre in Timisoara.
The goal of EU membership has led to substantial reforms in children’s rights in Romania, as the Commission’s report of 26 September sets out. It is an area we have followed closely. My predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, raised the issue with the Romanian Government in a visit to Bucharest in February 2006. We are pleased to see Romania working hard to overcome this legacy from the Ceausescu era. We will continue to monitor the situation following accession.
Mr. Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the EU has taken to ensure that the Romanian child care system is functioning properly; and what funding the EU has made available for this. [89646]
Mr. Hoon: During the pre-accession phase, the EU has monitored Romania’s implementation of the Copenhagen criteria. Romania is also bound to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as the European Human Rights Convention.
Since the mid 1990s, Romania has undertaken substantial reforms in the child protection field. In their 26 September report, the European Commission highlighted several examples of good progress, including closing large child care institutions, and judged that Romania has a system comparable to many other European member states.
The EU has given around £160 million over the last 15 years to improve public care for children. With this help, the majority of the large residential orphanages have been closed down and replaced with better alternatives such as smaller homes or foster care. The EU has also supported a major public information campaign in Romania since 2001 to raise awareness of alternatives to the institutionalisation of children, and of the rights of children to proper care. Furthermore, an independent panel of EU family law experts was formed to assist the Romanian authorities in preparing their new legislation, which the Commission judge to be in line with UN principles.
Mr. Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has received from non-government organisations based in Romania responsible for childcare; and if she will make a statement. [89647]
Mr. Hoon:
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received representations through correspondence from non-governmental organisations and charities to our Embassy in Bucharest and Mission to the Council
of Europe in Strasbourg. Most recently, for example, we have been in dialogue with the Smiles Foundation. As well as maintaining regular dialogue with the Romanian authorities on the issue of children’s rights, the Embassy has assisted in various projects to help with the process of reform.
Sir Michael Jay
Mr. Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cash equivalent transfer value was of the total accrued pension and related lump sum for Sir Michael Jay as at 31 March; and what this figure was on 28 July. [89905]
Mr. Hoon: As at 31 March 2006, the cash equivalent transfer value of Sir Michael Jay’s accrued pension and lump sum was £141,819.
On his last day of service, 18 August 2006, the value stood at £144,405. The increase was due to Sir Michael’s 2006 pay award, paid from 1 April.
Although Sir Michael stood down from his position as Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 28 July, his last day of service, after taking outstanding leave, was 18 August 2006.
Somalia
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement regarding the political situation in Somalia between the Government and the Union of Islamic Courts. [91584]
Dr. Howells: The political situation in Somalia remains fragile. Talks in Khartoum between the Transitional Federal Institutions and the Union of Islamic Courts have produced two agreements, but the Union of Islamic Courts’ takeover of the city of Kismayo casts doubts on their commitment to reconciliation.
We urge the Union of Islamic Courts to respect the Transitional Federal Charter and to remain committed to the Khartoum dialogue. We continue to urge both sides to remain committed to the agreements reached at Khartoum and to work for progress in pursuit of a lasting political process to restore peace and stability to Somalia.
South Africa
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the South African Government on the Prohibition of Mercenary Activity and Prohibition and Regulation of Certain Activities in the Area of Armed Conflict Bill 2005 on behalf of South African nationals serving in the UK Armed Forces. [92159]
Dr. Howells:
Our high commissioner in Pretoria has made representations to the Government of South Africa on this matter on several occasions, including directly addressing the Defence Select Committee of the South African Parliament during the passage of legislation. My right hon. Friend the Minister Without
Portfolio and Party Chair, discussed the Mercenary Bill with South Africa’s Deputy Foreign Minister during her visit to South Africa in August. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence expressed concern at the implications of the legislation for South African citizens serving in the British armed forces in a letter to South Africa’s Defence Minister on 25 August.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |