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20 Mar 2007 : Column 833W—continued
Chad: Refugees
Mr. Clifton-Brown:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the situation in Chad;
what action the Government is taking to avert a worsening of the situation in Chad; what discussions she has had with (a) her counterparts on the United Nations Security Council and (b) the British High Commission in Yaounde on the assessment of the situation by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. [126807]
Mr. McCartney: The UK is in regular contact with the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian agencies about the evolving situation in eastern Chad. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development (DFID) undertook a humanitarian assessment to eastern Chad in February. We are concerned at the increasing levels of internal displacement due to inter-ethnic fighting and cross-border attacks from Darfur, the protection of refugees, the security environment for humanitarian agency operations and the fragility of the natural resource base to support displaced populations. The UK, through DFID, is providing £4 million to support the humanitarian response to refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) this year.
Representatives from the FCO and our High Commission in Yaounde visit Chad regularly. A UK delegation, including a representative from our High Commission in Yaounde, visited N’Djamena from 19-22 February this year. The delegation met a wide range of interlocutors, including the Foreign Minister and senior officials of the Government of Chad, and the UNHCR representative. The delegation took every opportunity to impress on interlocutors:
the need to improve Chad/Sudan relations and border security, in accordance with the Tripoli Agreement;
the importance of the Government of Chad honouring its responsibility to the refugees and IDPs, and accepting the deployment of the UN to assist in achieving this objective;
that we and the international community were looking to the Government of Chad to pursue dialogue with the rebel groups with a view to bringing Chad’s internal rebellion to a peaceful conclusion.
The UK continues to raise the humanitarian situation in Chad, including the plight of refugees and the internally displaced, in relevant Security Council consultations on a regular basis. We did this most recently on 27 February.
Together with partners in the Security Council, we are urging the UN to develop a workable plan for a UN presence in Chad as proposed by UN Security Council Resolution 1706.
China: Abortion
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on forced abortions in China; and if she will make a statement. [128110]
Mr. McCartney:
We are aware of reports of the maladministration of China’s One Child Policy involving enforced sterilisation and abortions, including those highlighted by the human rights lawyer, Chen Guangcheng. While we do not question China’s right or need to implement family planning policies, we have made it
clear to the Chinese Government that we believe they should be based on the principles of consent and not coercion.
Cuba: Political Prisoners
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her estimate is of the number of political prisoners being held by the Cuban Government. [127505]
Mr. Hoon: It is difficult to estimate the number of political prisoners in Cuba as the Cuban Government maintains tight control over information about its prisons. However, Amnesty International currently recognises that there are at least 67 “prisoners of conscience” in Cuba and is currently reviewing the cases of dozens of other prisoners who could also be considered prisoners of conscience.
In a report dated 9 January, the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation (CCHRNR—a standard non-official source of human rights information in Cuba) documented 283 cases. The CCHRNR has also reported thousands of young Cubans who are imprisoned on the charge of “peligrosidad predelictiva”, which means they have not committed a crime but are considered likely to do so. More information on the human rights situation in Cuba can be found in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s 2006 Annual Human Rights Report at:
Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations her Department has made to the Government of Cuba on the detention of Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet. [127720]
Mr. Hoon: We remain extremely concerned about the plight of Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet and other political prisoners in Cuba. We are particularly concerned about those political prisoners who, like Dr. Biscet, are reported to be suffering poor health yet are not provided with adequate medical treatment. Our embassy in Havana continues to monitor Dr. Biscet’s case and maintains contact with his supporters and family. We regularly raise the situation of all political prisoners in Cuba with Cuban authorities both in London and Havana and call for their immediate release. During its most recent review of the EU’s Common Position on Cuba in June 2006, the European Council once again
“urged the Cuban Government to unconditionally release all political prisoners”.
More information on the human rights situation in Cuba, and on UK and EU actions, can be found in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s 2006 Annual Human Rights Report, available at:
Departments: Paper
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what mechanisms are in place to ensure her Department’s economical use of paper. [128007]
Mr. Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office through our intranet, environmental volunteers in directorates, and annual awareness raising campaigns encourages staff to rely where possible on paperless communications and to minimise the amount of paper consumed.
EC Action: Terrorism
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) terms of reference and (b) membership are of the European Union's clearing house in respect of the addition and deletion of groups included on the list of terrorist organisations; what opportunities there are for (i) the organisations themselves and (ii) other non-government bodies (A) to have a hearing and (B) to submit evidence; and if she will make a statement. [128848]
Dr. Howells: The Council of the EU decided in 2001 to draw up a list of terrorist groups and individuals in order to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001), which obliges all UN member states to
“freeze without delay funds and other financial assets or economic resources of persons who commit, or attempt to commit, terrorist acts or participate in or facilitate the commission of terrorist acts”.
The EU autonomous terrorist asset freezing regime was established under Council Common Position 2001/931/Common Foreign and Security Policy of 27 December 2001.
The Council keeps the EU list of terrorist groups and individuals under continual review. Decisions to add or remove individuals or groups are made by the Council of Ministers.
The EU has reviewed and improved its procedures for listing individuals and groups, taking full account of the judgment by the Court of First Instance of the European Communities on 12 December 2006. All groups listed since 12 December have been notified of the reasons for their inclusion on the list, and an explanation as to how the group can exercise its right to provide further information relevant to the case and/or petition for delisting.
In addition to petitioning the Council for delisting, groups and individuals may also challenge their listing before the Court of First Instance of the European Communities.
Other non-government bodies can also provide relevant information and/or evidence to the Council of the EU, by contacting the Council Secretariat.
Embassies: Ministers
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether she keeps a record of which Ministers have stayed at each British embassy or residence. [123001]
Margaret Beckett: Records of where Ministers stay on overseas visits are not held centrally. Obtaining the information the hon. Member requires would incur disproportionate cost.
Equatorial Guinea: Human Rights
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the human rights record of the government of Equatorial Guinea. [126974]
Mr. McCartney: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office takes a close interest in the human rights situation in Equatorial Guinea, and raises concerns about human rights issues both bilaterally and through the regular EU dialogue with Equatorial Guinea.
We continue to be extremely concerned about the lack of access to justice and lack of independence of the judiciary in Equatorial Guinea, following the trials of the alleged coup plotters in 2005. Arbitrary detention is common for political reasons, as well as criminal, and is sometimes imposed for apparently minor offences. Imprisonment without trial is also commonplace. Expatriates working on contracts in the country have been detained, not always in prison, in purely commercial disputes. Corruption and bribery is widespread throughout the judicial system. Nepotism is also rife, so resolving consular difficulties can be problematic and time consuming. Where trials do occur, they are often considered to be unfair. Amnesty International, which observed the coup trials in 2005, stated in its 2006 report that subsequent trials were also unfair, with defendants held incommunicado before the trial and reportedly convicted on the basis of confession statements extracted under torture.
Iran: Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response she (a) has made and (b) plans to make to the European Commission’s conclusion on Iran’s future acquisition of sufficient weapons-grade uranium to make a nuclear weapon; and if she will make a statement. [127925]
Dr. Howells: The European Council Secretariat prepared a “food for thought” paper, intended to stimulate discussion at the February meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council. The paper did not reflect a considered or shared EU analysis.
Concerns about Iranian development of enrichment technology are pressing, but it is also clear that Iran is having difficulty in mastering enrichment technology. We still have time to make diplomacy work, and a renewed suspension of enrichment-related activity is still relevant and important.
The UK and the rest of the EU remain fully committed to finding a negotiated solution and to prevent Iran from acquiring the means to produce nuclear weapons, through stepping up pressure on Iran to comply with United Nation Security Council and International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors requirements while keeping generous proposals on the table. We have seen that Security Council Resolution 1737 has stimulated a debate inside Iran about the cost of the course on which the regime has set the country. A further resolution imposing additional incremental measures is under discussion in the Security Council.
Iraq: Oil
Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings officials from her Department have held with international oil companies since January 2003 at which Iraq was discussed; and who was present at each meeting. [128150]
Dr. Howells: I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave to him on 19 February, Official Report, columns 399-400W. Meetings with oil companies since 2003 have involved a wide range of Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials.
Marc Swanson
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress her officials have made in their inquiries of the Ministry of Justice in Brazil on the disappearance of Marc Swanson in 2003; and if she will make a statement. [128287]
Dr. Howells: Our officials in London and Brazil are continuing to press the Brazilian Ministry of Justice for information about the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Marc Swanson. We will continue to do all we properly can to ensure that the authorities are doing everything possible to trace him. Officials continue to maintain contact with the local police and will ensure the family are kept fully up to date.
Marie Therese Nlandu
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations she has received on the imprisonment of Marie Thèrese Nlandu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [126811]
Mr. McCartney: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received a number of letters from members of the public and hon. Members on the detention of Mme Nlandu. There have also been several parliamentary questions on the case.
Namibia
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Government Ministers visited Namibia in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006. [126988]
Mr. McCartney: No Government Ministers visited Namibia in 2005 or 2006.
Namibia: Land Redistribution
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the Namibian government on land redistribution in Namibia. [126973]
Mr. McCartney:
Our high commission in Windhoek has regular discussions with the Government of Namibia, including over the issue of land redistribution. In the areas of land reform and restitution, the Government
of Namibia are officially committed to a constitutional and market-based process of land reform through the willing buyer, willing seller principle. The Department for International Development has previously funded assistance on the technical aspects of Land Reform, in collaboration with Germany, by supporting the work of the Namibian Ministry of Land’s permanent technical team. Although the UK no longer has a bilateral aid programme in Namibia, areas such as land reform continue to be supported, through our contribution to the European Commission.
Namibia: Zimbabwe
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the Foreign Minister of Namibia on Zimbabwe. [126990]
Mr. McCartney: Our High Commission in Windhoek regularly raises Zimbabwe with Namibian Government Ministers and the Government of Namibia is well aware of our views. Zimbabwe was most recently discussed on 22 February when the Heads of EU Missions in Windhoek met the Namibian Deputy Foreign Minister.
North Korea: Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on the access given to North Korean nuclear facilities for International Atomic Energy Agency director Mohamed el-Baradei. [126808]
Mr. McCartney: Dr. el-Baradei visited the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 13-14 March. He said during a press briefing on 5 March that the purpose of his visit would be twofold. Firstly, to consider normalisation of relations between the DPRK and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and secondly, to make arrangements for IAEA personnel to carry out inspections, as agreed at the latest round of Six Party Talks on 13 February.
Further details on Dr. el-Baradei’s visit to the DPRK can be found on the IAEA website at:
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role she expects the United Kingdom to play in ensuring North Korea dismantles its nuclear weapons programme; and if she will make a statement. [127337]
Mr. McCartney: The agreement reached by the participants in the Six Party Talks on 13 February is a step in the right direction towards the peaceful denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. The UK bilaterally and the EU will take every opportunity to urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to fulfil the commitments it has entered into. However, we remain profoundly concerned by the nuclear test conducted on 9 October 2006 and look to the DPRK to stop all activities of concern as set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1718. Meanwhile the sanctions remain in place.
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