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8 Jan 2007 : Column 358W—continued
Somalia
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of recent conflict in Mogadishu; what steps she is taking with (a) the EU, (b) the UN and (c) bilateral relationships, to prevent escalated conflict in Somalia; and what discussions she has held with the (i) Ethiopian Government and (ii) Somali Government based in Baidoa. [110384]
Mr. McCartney: We are concerned about the conflict in Somalia. With our international partners we are working actively to promote a peaceful resolution to Somalia’s difficulties on the basis of a sustainable peace process.
We have frequent bilateral contacts with the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and countries in the region including Ethiopia. We are working closely with EU partners and in the UN Security Council to achieve peace and stability in Somalia.
We urge rapid implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1725, adopted unanimously on 6 December 2006, which authorises the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the African Union to establish a protection and training mission in Somalia. In this regard, we look forward to Ethiopia withdrawing its troops from Somalia as quickly as it can, as it has stated it wants to.
We are also encouraging all parties inside and outside Somalia to use the current opportunity to embed a political process across Somalia as envisaged in the Transitional Federal Charter. We will support the Transitional Federal Institutions and Transitional Federal Government in pursuing this.
Sudan
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when she expects the hybrid UN-AU peacekeeping force in Darfur to be implemented. [110382]
Mr. McCartney: The UN-African Union (AU) hybrid peacekeeping force in Darfur will be implemented as the third and final phase of increased UN support to the AU mission. We want this to happen as soon as possible. The force was agreed at the High Level Consultation on Darfur in Addis Ababa on 16 November. The first phase is a light support package of logistical and material support that is currently being implemented. It will be followed by a heavy package that is being finalised between the UN and the AU and will prepare the ground for deployment of the full hybrid force. It will be vital that the necessary infrastructure, training and equipment is in place before the full force is deployed.
Uganda
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the second ceasefire extension agreed between the Ugandan Government and the Lord's Resistance Army; what representations she has made on the ceasefire and the Juba peace talks; what discussions she has held with the (a) UK high commission, Kampala, (b) African Union and (c) United Nations on this matter. [113082]
Mr. McCartney: The mediation process remains fragile. We were encouraged when the Lord's Resistance Army and Government of Uganda delegations returned to Juba in mid-December after a lengthy recess.
Officials from our high commission in Kampala, along with other representatives of the international community, visited Juba on 14 December to discuss progress with all parties. Subsequent talks between the delegations resulted in a further extension to the cessation of hostilities agreement being signed on 16 December.
We continue to discuss the mediation process with both the African Union and the UN, most recently on 13 December and 19 December respectively.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Government of Uganda on the Commonwealth Harare Declaration of 1991. [113501]
Mr. McCartney: The Harare Commonwealth Declaration of 1991 sets out the Commonwealth's commitment to democracy, the rule of law and good governance.
We do not hold formal talks with the Ugandan Government on the Harare Declaration, but we continue to discuss the importance of promoting good governance, deepening the multi-party political system in Uganda and addressing the long-running conflict in northern Uganda.
These discussions are regularly held at the highest levels of government, including with the President.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received of the arrest of Dr. Kizza Besigye in Uganda. [113514]
Mr. McCartney: Following his arrest on 14 November 2005 Dr. Besigye was released on bail on 2 January 2006. On 7 March 2006 High Court Judge Katutsi dismissed the rape charges against Dr. Besigye, saying that the prosecution had failed to prove its case. Dr. Besigye continues to face a number of treason charges in the Ugandan High Court. President Museveni has assured us that due process will be followed.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received of the ruling of the Ugandan Supreme Court on Dr. Kizza Besigye's election petition. [113515]
Mr. McCartney: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 29 November 2006, Official Report, column 744W.
UK-funded Medical Treatment
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of foreign governments have received UK-funded medical treatment since May 1997; and if she will list the countries involved. [107197]
Ms Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
Successive Governments have not required the national health service to provide statistics on the number of overseas visitors—including members of foreign governments—who have been seen, treated or charged under the provisions of the “NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989”, as amended, nor any costs involved. It is therefore not possible to provide the information requested.
Uruguay and Argentina
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications for the policy of recent tensions between Uruguay and Argentina over a planned mill on the border. [113079]
Mr. Hoon: The tensions between Argentina and Uruguay have not affected UK relations with either country. The UK view is that the construction of a cellulose plant at Fray Bentos in Uruguay should be treated on its merits. Accordingly, the UK voted in favour when the project was discussed by the International Finance Corporation on 21 November.
Venezuela
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations the UK Government has made to the government of Venezuela on the Bolivarian missions in that country. [113204]
Mr. Hoon: We have not made any representations to the Government of Venezuela on this domestic issue. We welcome the emphasis the Venezuelan government is putting on tackling poverty and the improvements the missions have brought in Venezuela’s healthcare and education provision. We do, however, have some concerns about the longer-term sustainability of the missions.
Visas
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost to her Department of appeals against initial decisions by entry clearance officers on visa applications for each month in 2006. [110423]
Mr. McCartney: There is no separate calculation that shows the actual cost of an appeal against a specific decision to refuse an entry clearance.
Zimbabwe
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received of the possible postponement of Zimbabwe's presidential elections; and what discussions she has had with (a) the UK Embassy in Harare and (b) her counterparts in other countries on those reports. [112845]
Mr. McCartney: At their December Party conference, ZANU(PF) took note of a resolution to postpone the presidential elections to 2010 and merge them with the parliamentary elections. The resolution has now been referred to the ZANU(PF) Central Committee. We are concerned that Mugabe will use this resolution to extend his current term of office from 2008 to 2010 reference to the Zimbabwean people. Our embassy in Harare discussed the ZANU(PF) Conference with other EU Heads of Mission on 19 December.
It is clear that what Zimbabwe requires is a truly democratically elected government that is determined to work for its people, and is committed to economic and governance reform: the economy has shrunk by 30 per cent. in the last five years; young Zimbabweans will be lucky to live past their 40th birthday; those made homeless by Operation Murambatsvina are living in poor, overcrowded conditions without proper access to food and medicine; and law enforcement authorities continue to respond to peaceful demonstrators with brutal violence and torture. Whoever governs Zimbabwe, it is clear that a dramatic change of policy direction is required.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports she has received of comments made by the President of Uganda on Zimbabwe's land policy; and what assessment she has made of the effect of those comments on the situation in Zimbabwe. [113513]
Mr. McCartney: We continue to call on African leaders to speak out against Mugabe's bad policies. We are not aware of any recent public statements by President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, on Zimbabwe’s land policy. But independent surveys of the fate of Zimbabwe's agricultural population tell a tragic story: 75 per cent. of farm workers and their dependants have been forced out of their farmland homes. These people, who number at least two million, now live marginal lives without income, access to proper shelter, food or medicine. We fear that many of these people have died. We are concerned that the Gazetted Land Act, which Mugabe signed into law in December, will be used as an unjust pretext for further intimidation and attacks on farmers, with more damage to Zimbabwe’s economy.
We have always said that we would support a land reform programme that was transparent, fair and legal and that was carried out within a macro-economic framework that formed part of a wider Zimbabwe Government programme to reduce poverty.
Communities and Local Government
Barker Review
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations she has received on the Barker Review of Land Use Planning. [112789]
Yvette Cooper: Kate Barker published the final report of her independent Review of Land Use Planning on 5 December 2006. The Government have welcomed Kate Barker's report and will set out in a White Paper in spring 2007 our proposals in response to her recommendations for improving the speed, responsiveness and efficiency of land use planning.
In the meantime, the Government have said they will be interested to hear responses to the report. To date, the Department has received about 15 responses from a range of bodies and individuals.
Building Standards
Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to give more powers to local authorities to impose higher building standards with regards to (a) insulation, (b) energy efficiency and (c) built-in micro-generation. [113052]
Angela E. Smith: In “Building a Greener Future”, published for consultation on 13 December 2006, we set out our policy framework for moving towards zero-carbon development. In doing so, our aim is to provide certainty for the development industry and other related businesses without over-regulating the sector. With an ambitious national framework in place to strengthen building regulations, local authorities should not need to devise and impose their own detailed standards for the environmental performance of individual buildings. The draft Planning Policy Statement (PPS) on climate change, published for consultation alongside “Building a Greener Future”, recognises there may be local development or site specific opportunities to justify higher levels of building performance than set out nationally. The draft PPS sets out what is expected of local planning authorities in considering and justifying any local approach.
Church of Scientology
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the eligibility of the Church of Scientology for non-domestic rate relief; and if she will make a statement. [112720]
Mr. Woolas: The Local Government Finance Act 1988 set out the eligibility criteria for non-domestic rate reliefs. It is for local billing authorities to decide whether to grant rate relief in any given circumstance based on the facts of the individual case.
Compensation Payments
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much in compensation payments was paid by her Department in 2005-06; and what the reason for the payment was in each case. [108209]
Angela E. Smith: Compensation payments totalling some £941,061.32 were paid by the former Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) in 2005-06. The vast majority of this amount (£935,041.66) was in respect of 47 personal injury claims, mainly relating to former Property Services Agency (PSA) staff who have contracted an asbestos related disease as a result of occupational exposure; and £5,889.68 was to cover four claims for repair costs following damage to hire vehicles.
Consultants
Mrs. Spelman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent on external consultants and advisers by her
Department since its creation; and what the expected costs are for 2006-07. [104063]
Angela E. Smith: Communities and Local Government has engaged external professional services to provide advice, and specialist design, development and implementation skills in response to the need to develop sustainable homes and communities. The skills required were not available from civil servants. The budget for external professional services for 2006-07 is £64,376,748 and the spend to date is £31,844,679. The budget reflects the current expected outturn for the year and is likely to change as the year progresses to reflect the needs of the Department.
Specialist skills including project management, finance, engineering, technology specification, building specification and design, security and resilience have been engaged to support the delivery of projects to enhance the ability of the Fire and Rescue Service to respond to major incidents. The work undertaken includes radio engineering expertise for the new radio systems for the Fire and Rescue Service; also, logistical support and design for responding to chemical, biological, radioactive or nuclear incident, and search and rescue incidents. Around 60 per cent. of expenditure has been in support of these projects.
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department’s annual budget is for employing workers on a consultancy basis; and how much of this budget was used in each of the last five years for which records are available. [103019]
Angela E. Smith: The information requested is set out in the following table.
Communities and Local Government has engaged external professional services to provide advice, and specialist design, development and implementation skills in response to the need to develop sustainable homes and communities. The skills required were not available from civil servants.
Specialist skills including project management, finance, engineering, technology specification, building specification and design, security and resilience have been engaged to support the delivery of projects to enhance the ability of the Fire and Rescue Service to respond to major incidents. The work undertaken includes radio engineering expertise for the new radio systems for the Fire and Rescue Service; also, logistical support and design for responding to chemical, biological, radioactive or nuclear incident, and search and rescue incidents. Around 60 per cent. of expenditure has been in support of these projects.
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