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18 Dec 2006 : Column 1508W—continued
Compensation Payments
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was paid in compensation payments by her Department in 2005-06; and what the reason for the payment was in each case. [108205]
Mr. Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office paid £235,427.51 in compensation in 2005-06. Of this we paid £84,000 to victims of the 2003 bombing of the British Consulate-General in Istanbul. The remainder was in settlement of miscellaneous smaller claimsfor which a case-by-case breakdown would incur disproportionate cost.
Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when she will reply to the letter of 26th October from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Vevima Marcelo. [107990]
Margaret Beckett: I replied to my right hon. Friend on 30 November.
Democratic Republic of Congo
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [105496]
Margaret Beckett: The security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains fragile, especially in the east of the country. Congolese militia and foreign armed groups continue to abuse local populations. Reform of the security sector has been minimal and the army continues to pose a threat to peace and stability.
But President Kabila's inauguration on 6 December and rival Jean-Pierre Bemba's decision to work in political opposition marks a turning point in the DRC's history. We look forward to working closely with the new Government to develop a stable, secure and prosperous DRC. Together with international partners, the UK will continue to press Congolese political and military actors to respect the democratic process and to ensure troops under their command do not restart violence or abuse civilians, and to continue efforts to re-establish diplomatic relations with neighbouring countries.
Departmental Equipment
Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of her Department's (a) computers and (b) laptops were stolen in each of the last nine years; and what the total value was of stolen computers and laptops in this period. [109209]
Mr. Hoon: No records are available for the period 1997 to 2001. The details of losses of computers and laptops for subsequent years are as follows:
| Laptops | PCs | |
We estimate the value of each piece of equipment lost does not exceed £1,000.
Entry Visa
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when HMHigh Commission, Islamabad, will issue an entry visa to Mr. W. G. (reference ISB/989803), husband of Mrs. A. M. of Aylesbury, following the decisions of the immigration judge on 23 May and of the tribunal on18 August (reference OA/17132/2005). [107368]
Dr. Howells: Mr. W. G., husband of Mrs. A. M. of Aylesbury, was issued with entry clearance by the Visa Section of our High Commission in Islamabad on4 December 2006.
EU Civil Service
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps her Department is taking to promote diversity and equality throughout the EU Civil Service. [106876]
Mr. Hoon: The Government are committed to helping UK nationals who wish to make a career in the EU institutions and believes that, just as the UK Civil Service should be representative of British society, so the staff in the EU institutions should reflect the diversity of the entire EU.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office works closely with the Cabinet Office to encourage a diverse range of UK candidates to apply to work in the EU institutions, for example, by regularly participating in recruitment fairs throughout the UK.
EU Constitution
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the German Foreign Ministry on the EU Constitution. [109795]
Dr. Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has regular contact with German counterparts. This contact will continue in advance of and during Germany's presidency of the European Council in the first half of 2007. My right hon.Friend the Foreign Secretary visited Berlin on 23 to24 October to discuss a range of foreign policy issues, including EU issues. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary also had talks with the German ambassador on 14 December. A range of foreign policy issues was discussed, including EU issues.
European Anti-Fraud Office
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on progress made by (a) the European Anti-Fraud Office and (b) the case of illegal exports to Iraq during the previous regime, as referred to on page 125 of the European Court of Auditors' Reportfor 2003. [108383]
Mr. Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr. Howells, gave to him on 10 May 2006, Official Report, column 351W, with regard to illegal exports to Iraq in the 1990s. Several member states have been requested to recover funds unduly paid. Investigations on financial responsibility are ongoing.
European Commission
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who the UK members are of the European Commission's High Level Advisory Group on Social Integration of Ethnic Minorities and their Full Participation in the Labour Market; what the mission statement is of the group; how much in expenses claims have been made by UK members of the group; and what the agenda has been of each meeting. [108154]
Mr. Hoon:
Members of the European Commission's “High Level Advisory Group on Social Integration of Ethnic Minorities and their Full Participation in the Labour Market” are appointed in a personal capacity.
There is only one UK citizen who is a member, Mr. Lee Jasper. The Commission Decision of 20 January 2006 establishing the group states its objectives to be:
to analyse how to achieve better social integration of ethnic minorities and their full participation in the labour market within the European Union; and
to submit, before the end of the “2007 European Yearof Equal Opportunities for All”, a report containing recommendations on the policies to be implemented in this connection.
The group will also play a role in assessingthe socio-economic situation of ethnic minorities, the different situations and needs of minority groups, the impact of multiple discrimination and the impact of possible future enlargement.
The Government do not hold details of expenses as they are paid directly by the Commission. The group met for the first time on 13 February 2006 in Brussels. As the group was established by the Commission the Government do not hold copies of the meetings' agendas.
Fines: EU
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions the UK has been fined by the EU in the last five years; and how much this has amounted to in each such year. [109260]
Mr. Hoon: The UK has never been fined by the European Court of Justice.
Government Hospitality
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost of the Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine was in 2005-06. [109459]
Mr. Hoon: The running costs amounted to just under £9,600. These include the costs of samples for tasting, and the cost of four meetings and lunch for the committee and its guests. This figure does not include the staff time of the official who administers the committee, the head of Government Hospitality, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Services.
Guatemala
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the human rights situation in Guatemala. [108416]
Mr. Hoon: We are in close contact, and discuss human rights regularly, with the Guatemalan Government, our EU partners and a wide range of human rights organisations. The human rights situation has improved since the signing of the Peace Accords in 1996, following 36 years of conflict. However, we are concerned by the security and human rights situation, the growth of organised crime, the activities of gangs (called maras) and widespread impunity which threatens the rule of law in Guatemala. We are also concerned by attacks on human rights defenders and the increase in violence against women.
We will continue to press the Guatemalan authorities to implement in full the 1996 Peace Accords, investigate reports of human rights abuses thoroughly and tackle impunity.
Iran: Nuclear Power
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions she has met her P5 +Germany counterparts to discuss Iran's nuclear programme since 31 August 2006. [104860]
Margaret Beckett: The Foreign Ministers of the ‘E3+3’ (France, Germany, UK + China, Russia, US) have met twice since August to discuss Iran, on19 September in New York and on 6 October in London. I have also discussed Iran in bilateral meetings, including when I saw my Russian and US counterparts at the ‘Forum for the Future’ conference in Amman on 1 December.
E3+3 senior officials have met many times to discuss a new draft Security Council Resolution on Iran, most recently on 5 December in Paris.
Israel
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what visa regulations are in place for Israelis seeking to enterthe UK. [110228]
Dr. Howells: Israeli citizens are classed as non-visa nationals and must comply with the Immigration Rules to enter the UK. Details of the visa regulations regarding non-visa nationals can be found in Diplomatic Service Procedures Volume 1 available on the UKVisas website at:
http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1034241195847.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps she is taking to encourage the EU to suspend the EU Israel Trade Association Agreement. [110230]
Dr. Howells: We are taking no steps to encouragethe EU to suspend the EU-Israel Trade Association Agreement. We therefore continue to work with both parties, as well as the US, our EU partners and the international community to work to revitalise the peace process.
Kosovo
David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on the fulfilment of UN Resolution 1244 on the future of Kosovo. [105970]
Mr. Hoon:
We have worked closely with the UN Mission in Kosovo, supporting its mandate under 1244, and in particular working with UN and Contact Group partners to support a political process to
determine Kosovo’s future status. We fully supportthe work of UN Status Envoy Martti Ahtisaari in determining a settlement on final status.
Lebanon
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress the international community has made in achieving the disarmament of Hezbollah in Lebanon in compliance with UN resolutions; and if she will make a statement. [110167]
Dr. Howells: The UN Secretary-General has made clear his belief that disarmament of militias in Lebanon must take place through a political process leading to the full restoration of the authority of the Government of Lebanon. Discussions between parties in Lebanon on how to form a representative government exercising sole authority began, but are currently stalled. We continue to urge the parties to resume dialogue.
Middle East
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had on establishing a sanctions committee to monitor the implementation of the UN arms embargo against Lebanon as set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1701; and if she will make a statement. [105416]
Margaret Beckett: The UK continues to be concerned about reports of arms smuggling across the Syria/Lebanon border in contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. In his letter of 1 December to the Security Council, the UN Secretary-General noted that the UN continues to receive reports of arms smuggling across the Lebanese/Syrian border, although the UN has been unable to verify these.
We remain fully committed to UN Security Council Resolution 1701. While I have had no discussions on establishing a sanctions committee, officials in my Department have discussed this with international partners and the UN, as part of a package of measures designed to help the Government of Lebanon strengthen the security of their border with Syria.
NATO Partnership for Peace
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what follow-up mechanism will be put in place to ensure the full co-operation of Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia following their invitation to join the NATO Partnership for Peace. [105428]
Margaret Beckett:
NATO's invitation for Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to join Partnership for Peace (PfP) was taken in the interests of long-term stability in the Western Balkans and as recognition of the progress the two countries have made. However, the communiqué from the Riga summit makes clear that NATO expects Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to
co-operate fully with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and will closely monitor their respective efforts in this. This will be important for both countries as PfP members, and if they want to move beyond PfP towards full NATO membership. The level of co-operation of both countries with the ICTY is subject to regular review by ICTY's Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte.
Nuclear Disarmament
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many multilateral negotiating fora the UK participates in with the aim of seeking multilateral disarmament; and what progress has been made towards nuclear disarmament in these fora. [109488]
Dr. Howells: The Conference on Disarmament (CD) is the only dedicated permanent negotiating forum with a mandate to negotiate disarmament. The CD and its predecessors (10 Nation (1960), 18 Nation (1962-68) and Conference on the Committee on Disarmament (1969-78)) have been responsible for negotiating:
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;
convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques;
the seabed treaties;
the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction;
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