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2 May 2007 : Column 1716W—continued
Somalia: Terrorism
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps she is taking to seek a ceasefire by Islamic insurgents in Somalia. [134520]
Mr. McCartney: The UK does not have contact with the Islamist insurgents in Somalia, but we have called for an immediate end to all fighting and publicly urged all parties to commit to a truce and agree a lasting ceasefire.
We have repeatedly made clear that all parties in Somalia need to reject violence and allow the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to do their
job. Any differences that some groups in Mogadishu might have with the TFG should be pursued through the National Reconciliation Congress and dialogue with the TFG rather than by resorting to violence. We condemn any attacks on the TFG, which is the only legitimate route through which governance, peace and stability can be restored to Somalia. At the same time, we have repeatedly made clear to the TFG that they must make genuine attempts to reach out to all groups in Somalia that credibly reject violence.
Sudan
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations she has made to the government of Sudan on Janjaweed militia activity in Darfur. [134339]
Mr. McCartney: We have pressed the Government of Sudan to act on its obligations under UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1706 (2006). This requires implementation of an effective ceasefire and of the Darfur Peace Agreement, including its provisions for the disarmament of the Janjaweed/armed militias; and a renewed political process between the Government of Sudan and the rebel groups.
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary condemned the most recent Government of Sudan bombing raids in North Darfur, between 19 and 21 April, which resulted in a number of civilian injuries and deaths.
To maintain pressure on the Government of Sudan to implement their commitments to the international community, we are currently discussing the elements of a new UNSCR with international partners and the UN.
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment the Government have made of the need for a no-fly zone over Darfur; and if she will make a statement. [135252]
Mr. McCartney: We utterly condemn the recent bombings in North Darfur by the Sudanese Government. They are in direct violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1591 and demonstrate a lack of commitment to the peace process.
The Sudanese Government must commit to an immediate ceasefire. If they do not, we will be forced to press for tougher measures. We are considering all options, including measures to allow better monitoring of the illegal use of aircraft in Darfur.
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government plan to take at United Nations level following recent reports by the United Nations Panel of Experts that the Government of the Sudan are operating aircraft with United Nations markings in Darfur. [135253]
Mr. McCartney:
We are very concerned by reports that the Government of Sudan are operating aircraft with UN markings in Darfur. The Sudanese Government resumed bombing villages in Darfur last
week, resulting in a number of civilian injuries and deaths. We condemn these attacks, which show little regard for human life.
We supported the report by the Panel of Experts and its recommendations at the UN Sanctions Committee. It has not yet been transmitted to the UN Security Council, nor has its contents been made public. Our Ambassador to the UN, Sir Emyr Jones Parry, reports developments regularly to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary. We continue to discuss the case for further sanctions in the UN.
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment the Government have made of the steps taken by the US Administration to block transfers by US commercial banks of oil payments to the Government of Sudan; and if she will make a statement. [135254]
Mr. McCartney: We are aware of the steps taken by the US Administration to block transfers by US commercial banks of oil payments to the Government of Sudan. We are keeping the situation in Sudan under close review. If the Sudanese Government do not co-operate with the international community, we are prepared to consider further sanctions. We are discussing the elements of a new UN Security Council Resolution with international partners, which would include further targeted sanctions against individuals engaged in violence or responsible for authorising it; an extension of the arms embargo to cover the whole of Sudan; and, measures to allow better monitoring of the illegal use of aircraft in Darfur.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether she has received evidence of breaches of the sanctions regime in the Darfur region of Sudan. [134926]
Mr. McCartney: The Sudanese Government resumed bombing villages in Darfur last week, resulting in a number of civilian injuries and deaths. We condemn these attacks, which show little regard for human life. We supported the report by the Panel of Experts and its recommendations at the UN Sanctions Committee. It has not yet been transmitted to the UN Security Council nor has its contents been made public.
Uganda: Arrests
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on the welfare of the recently arrested leaders of the Ugandan Opposition Beatrice Atim and Hussein Kyanjo; and if she will make a statement. [134144]
Mr. McCartney: Ugandan Opposition MPs Beatrice Atim and Hussein Kyanjo were arrested on 16 April, following demonstrations in Kampala on 12 April protesting about plans to give away parts of Mabira forest to the Sugar Corporation of Uganda Ltd. They have been charged with participating in a riot. They were granted bail and released on 18 April. Their case will be heard on 15 May. Our high commission in Kampala has been in contact with Hussein Kyanjo to check on the welfare of both MPs, which we understand is satisfactory.
We condemn the violence that erupted on the streets of Kampala on 12 April resulting in the deaths of three people. We call on all sides to uphold full respect for human rights and to respect the rule of law.
Uganda: Human Rights
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps she is taking to monitor the human rights situation in Kampala; and if she will make a statement. [134146]
Mr. McCartney: I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave to the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson) on 26 April 2007, Official Report, column 1260W.
Our high commission in Kampala continues to closely follow the human rights situation in Kampala and in Uganda as a whole.
Most recently the plans to give away parts of Mabira forest to private ownership have resulted in violent street protest and deaths in Kampala. In our contacts with the Ugandan Government we will continue to stress the importance of the police acting responsibly and proportionately when policing demonstrations.
Uganda: Peace Negotiations
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps she is taking to monitor the newly established ceasefire agreement between the Lord's Resistance Army and the Ugandan Government; and if she will make a statement. [134138]
Mr. McCartney: The Cessation of Hostilities Monitoring Team is responsible for monitoring the recently revised and extended Cessation of Hostilities Agreement between the Lord's Resistance Army and the Ugandan Government. We welcome the decision by the African Union to deploy two additional monitors from each of the five official observer countries—Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa.
UN Resolutions: Frontiers
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many notifications have been received by the UN Security Council Committee established pursuant to UN Resolution 1737 (2006) since 23 December 2006 from states reporting the entry into or transit through their territories of designated persons. [132783]
Margaret Beckett: The UN Security Council Committee established, pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1737 (2006), has received two notifications from member states of travel by individuals designated in the Annexes to resolutions 1737 (2006) and 1747 (2007). Russia notified the Committee in March of the pending travel to Moscow of General Zolqadr for bilateral talks and Indonesia notified the Committee in March of the pending travel to Jakarta of Mohammad Reza Assadi, an employee of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, for a regional conference.
Communities and Local Government
Community Development: Religion
Mr. Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund. [134939]
Mr. Woolas [holding answer 30 April 2007]: Two reports have so far been published. The first, the Survey of Parties in the Application Process, was published in May 2006. This survey evaluated the processes of application that occurred in the first round of the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund (FCCBF). The fund is administered by the Community Development Foundation (CDF) and the report is available on the CDF website at: http://www.cdf.org.uk.
The second report on the first survey into the impact of the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund was published in March 2007. This report is available on the CDF website.
Departments: Great Yarmouth
Mr. Anthony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding her Department and its predecessors provided to Great Yarmouth borough council in each of the last 30 years for which figures are available. [135204]
Mr. Woolas: Complete figures are readily available only for the last five years. Payments made to Great Yarmouth borough council by Communities and Local Government and its predecessors since 2002-03 were as follows.
| £ million | |||
| Formula grant | Other payments | Total | |
Home Information Packs
Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what assessment she has made of the conclusions and recommendations of the Better Regulation Commission’s report Energy Performance Certificates and Residential Property; and whether home information packs will be introduced on 1 June; [129048]
(2) whether her Department is proceeding with the requirement that energy performance certificates be included in home information packs following the report by the Better Regulation Commission, Energy Performance Certificates and Residential Property, published on 26 February; and if she will make a statement. [129047]
Yvette Cooper: The Government have considered the views of the Better Regulation Commission (BRC) as well as the views of a wide range of stakeholders and organisations. We believe that home buyers need up to date energy information on their new home rather than energy information which is up to ten years out of date as the BRC have proposed.
Home Information Packs including Energy Performance Certificates that are no more than three months old at the point of first marketing will be introduced on 1 June. The relevant regulations and supporting regulatory impact assessments were laid before the House on 29 March and came into force on 19 April.
Housing: Income
Mr. Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the total amount was of capital receipts from shared owners staircasing up their equity share in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07; and to how many units these receipts related. [135073]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 1 May 2007]: When shared owners increase their equity share, the registered social landlord is required to reinvest the part of the receipt which represents any grant provided by the Housing Corporation for the provision of the property. In (a) 2005-06 this grant represented £48 million arising from the sale of further shares in 2,410 units. Data for (b) 2006-07 are not yet available.
The remaining receipts are retained by registered social landlords and details are not held centrally.
Public Houses: Closures
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what research she has commissioned on the impact of pub closures on local communities; and if she will make a statement. [132717]
Mr. Woolas: I have not commissioned any specific research on the impact of pub closures on local communities.
Regeneration: Great Yarmouth
Mr. Anthony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much departmental funding has been allocated to regeneration projects in Great Yarmouth in each year since 1997. [135176]
Mr. Woolas: Information is only available on allocations made directly by Communities and Local Government and its predecessors to Great Yarmouth borough council since 2002. All of these allocations were made under the European Regional Development Fund Objective 2 programme. These do not correspond to payments in the years concerned.
The amounts allocated were as follows:
| £ million | |
Constitutional Affairs
Postal Voting: Lancashire
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what percentage of the electorate has registered for a postal vote in each local authority in Lancashire. [134078]
Bridget Prentice: The Government only hold information on registration figures as of 1 December 2006, and the number of postal voters as of 1 January 2007. Using this information provides the following percentages for the local government electorate in Lancashire:
| Percentage | |
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