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16 May 2007 : Column 778W—continued
Estonia: Russia
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Government of Estonia on that country’s relations with Russia. [136964]
Mr. Hoon: The Estonian Foreign Minister briefed my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and other EU Foreign Ministers on Estonia’s relations with Russia at the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council on 14 May. Our Ambassador in Tallinn has held more detailed discussions with the Estonian Government on relations with Russia.
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has held with EU partners on relations between Russia and Estonia; and if she will make a statement. [136967]
Mr. Hoon: The Estonian Foreign Minister briefed my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and other EU Foreign Ministers on Estonia’s relations with Russia at the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council on 14 May. There have also been several debates within the EU and other organisations following the recent dispute over the relocation of a war memorial in Tallinn. We recognise the right of the Estonian government to relocate war memorials and war graves and see this as an internal matter for Estonia. We do not see rhetoric from others, designed to exacerbate the situation, as helpful.
EU Aid: Politics and Government
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) her Department’s and (b) EU policy is on funding
non-governmental organisations in other democratic countries which campaign actively against those countries’ Governments’ policies; and if she will make a statement. [132404]
Mr. McCartney: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is committed to promoting democratic values and principles, including a vibrant civil society.
We recognise the vital role civil society plays in promoting human rights, democracy and good governance. We value the expertise which many non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working to implement human rights possess and therefore work with them to encourage governments, including democratic ones, to meet international human rights standards.
The FCO has a range of programme funds which aim to support its work on human rights. The merits of all funding requests are considered on a case by case basis. Further information can be found on the FCO website at:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029394988.
The EU has a human rights and democracy programme, the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR). NGOs are eligible to bid for project funding. Information on the activities and actions of EIDHR is accessible at:
To be able to provide the information required by my hon. Friend a more specific request is required. I have asked my hon. Friend to write to me with specific details of his interest in this issue and I will respond to him.
European Constitution Treaty
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will submit any constitutional treaty agreed by the European Union to a vote in the House before it is signed. [136806]
Mr. Hoon: There is at present no consensus among EU partners on the way forward regarding the constitutional treaty or any new treaty. These issues will be discussed at the European Council in June. The Government’s approach to these discussions was set out in my written ministerial statement of 5 December 2006, Official Report, columns 10-11WS.
As with previous EU treaties, any text agreed would be signed by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and then submitted to Parliament for approval as part of the ratification process.
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will submit any EU treaty containing constitutional changes for the EU to a national referendum. [136807]
Mr. Hoon: There is at present no consensus among EU partners on the way forward regarding the constitutional treaty or any new treaty. These issues will be discussed at the European Council in June. The Government’s approach to these discussions was set out in my written ministerial statement of 5 December 2006, Official Report, columns 10-11WS.
Iran: Hezbollah
Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received of Iranian attempts to rearm Hezbollah. [137510]
Mr. McCartney: In March the UN Secretary-General reported that there was mounting evidence that Hezbollah is rearming and smuggling arms across the Syria/Lebanon border. While the UN Secretary-General's report did not specifically identify Iran as the supplier of these arms we continue to judge that Iran provides Hezbollah with weapons and finance.
The UK continues to have serious concerns about the role of Iran in the region, including Iran's continued and open support for Hezbollah. The UK has voiced these concerns on several occasions. UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1747 introduced a ban on the export of arms from Iran. We continue to work, along with our international partners, to ensure that UNSCR 1747 is fully implemented.
Pakistan: Immigration
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when HM High Commission Islamabad plans to act upon the decision of the Immigration Judge in the successful appeal of Mrs. K. U. N., wife of Mr. I. G. of Aylesbury (reference OA/26058/2006), the decision on which was promulgated on 19 February and forwarded to HM High Commission on 26 April. [137469]
Mr. McCartney: According to our High Commission in Islamabad a letter inviting the applicant to submit her passport was sent out on 10 May. As soon as the passport has been received the entry clearance can be issued.
Rafik Hariri
Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps she has taken to support the establishment of a tribunal into the murder of ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in Lebanon. [137509]
Mr. McCartney: The UK has been consistently committed to pursuing justice with regard to the assassination of Rafik Hariri. We were actively involved in negotiations on UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1595, which established the UN International Independent Investigation Commission to investigate the crime. We also supported UNSCR 1664 which called for the establishment of a tribunal to try those accused of committing the crimes.
In November 2006, with the UK's support, the then UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, wrote to Prime Minister Siniora inviting the Lebanese government to approve statutes for the tribunal. As yet this has not been possible given the ongoing political crisis in Lebanon. We are currently exploring with Security Council partners how the international community can assist Lebanon in setting up the tribunal.
Saudi Arabia
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when (a) she has and (b) officials from her Department have met (i) Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud and (ii) his representatives since 1 January 2006; and if she will make a statement. [136897]
Mr. McCartney: Meetings between Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials and Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud took place on the following dates:
2 January 2006;
7 February 2006;
10 March 2006;
5 December 2006; and
16 January 2007.
A meeting between officials and Rehab Massoud (Prince Bandar's chief of staff) took place on 18 April 2007.
Saw Lee Reh Kyaw
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on the execution of a Karenni humanitarian relief worker, Saw Lee Reh Kyaw, on 10 April. [137075]
Mr. McCartney: We have seen reports about the death of Saw Lee Reh Kyaw, a member of the Free Burma Rangers. Officials from our Embassy in Rangoon do not have access to conflict areas and have not been able to investigate these reports further.
I have raised the human rights situation regularly with the Burmese regime and other Governments in the region. On 16 June 2006, I called in the Burmese Ambassador and on 5 July 2006 I wrote to the Burmese Foreign Minister, highlighting our many concerns. On 18 September 2006, I raised the serious human rights situation with Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ambassadors, including the Burmese Ambassador, and on 4 December 2006 with the ASEAN Secretary-General. I have also raised Burma with the Governments of China, India, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and South Korea. I have discussed the human rights abuses taking place in Burma with Juan Mendez, the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide. I discussed Burma in detail with Ibrahim Gambari, the UN Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs, on 15 November 2006, following his visit to the country. Most recently, I raised the human rights situation in Burma in my address to the Human Rights Council in Geneva on 13 March and at the EU/ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Nuremberg on 15 March, in the presence of the Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister. In addition, our Ambassador in Rangoon regularly raises human rights with the regime, most recently when he met the Burmese Ministers for Planning and Immigration and the Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister on 5 January.
Sudan: International Relations
Mrs. Ellman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what
representations she has made to the Government of (a) Russia and (b) China on their relationship with the Government of Sudan. [137558]
Mr. McCartney: We regularly discuss relations with Sudan, and the situation in Darfur, with the Chinese and Russian Governments including at the UN. We want China and Russia to use their influence in Sudan to ensure the Government of Sudan supports deployment of a joint African Union/UN peacekeeping force in Darfur, a lasting ceasefire and a renewed political process with rebels in Darfur. We gave this message to the Chinese Government before President Hu's visit to Africa earlier this year.
Turkey: Human Rights
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether she plans to discuss the human rights of the Christian community in Turkey with her Turkish counterpart; and if she will make a statement. [137037]
Mr. Hoon: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary does not currently have plans to raise the issue of the human rights of the Christian community in Turkey with her Turkish counterpart. Freedom of worship is generally respected. There is more to be done to reduce the difficulties encountered by all minority religious communities. We continue to encourage Turkey to maintain the momentum of reform in all areas, including human rights and freedom of religion.
Justice
Abortion
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice if she will bring forward legislation to amend the Infant Life Preservation Act 1929 to reduce the period at which a foetus is presumed to be viable from 28 weeks to 22 weeks; what recent representations she has received on the issue; and if she will make a statement. [136818]
Mr. Sutcliffe: There are no current plans to amend the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929. No representations have been received on the specific issue recently.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice if she will bring forward legislation to create an offence of deliberately (a) injuring and (b) killing an unborn child; what recent representations she has received about the issue; and if she will make a statement. [136819]
Mr. Sutcliffe: Killing an unborn child is already an offence. The Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929 creates an offence of killing a child capable of being born alive. The Offences Against the Person Act 1861 creates an offence of procuring an abortion. Compliance with the provisions of the provisions of the Abortion Act 1967 provides a defence to both offences.
There is no specific offence of injuring a foetus. Injuring an unborn child, if proved, is likely to be dealt with in law as an injury to the mother.
We have had no recent representations on this issue.
Absent Voting: Hendon
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how many postal votes were registered in Hendon on 1 May in (a) 2006 and (b) 2007; and if she will make a statement. [137047]
Bridget Prentice: Information on the number of postal voters registered by constituency is not collated by my Department. However, I understand from the London borough of Barnet electoral services office that the relevant figures are: (a) 11,504 on 1 May 2006; and (b) 9,991 on 1 May 2007.
The Electoral Commission is collecting data from local electoral registration officers on their numbers of postal voters, in order to inform the Commission’s current review of the implementation of the new absent voter personal identifier requirements. The Commission’s final report should therefore make clear the extent to which the introduction of postal voter identifiers has affected the number of postal voters across England and Wales.
Departments: Enodian
Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice what consultancy and research work her Department, including the Hayden Phillips review, has commissioned from the firm Enodian in the last 12 months; at what cost; and for what purpose. [137179]
Vera Baird: Since the Ministry of Justice was only formed on 9 May, my response refers to the former Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) and those bodies which were formerly part of the Home Office which are now part of the new Department. In the past 12 months DCA commissioned Enodian to provide consultancy support as outlined as follows:
Provision of a Business Change Manager to support the implementation of structural changes within Corporate Diversity Unit (value £56,800).
Support to the development of an implementation strategy for raising diversity awareness throughout DCA (value £7,350); and to the design and delivery of diversity leadership briefing for senior officials (value £8,000).
Enodian have very recently been commissioned to provide organisational change management support to the Department’s Commercial Group at an approximate cost of £12,000.
The Review of the Funding of Political Parties and the current inter-party talks chaired by Sir Hayden Phillips are both independent of the Department. Enodian provided consultancy support and advice relating to the review (value £19,200) and subsequently have been engaged to lead the secretariat to the inter-party talks (at an expected value of between £32,000 and £40,000).
No consultancy or research work was commissioned with Enodian by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform, the National Offender Management Service or HM Prison Service.
Departments: Manpower
Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how many staff in her Department are classified as people without posts. [137078]
Bridget Prentice: There are currently 67 employees within the Ministry of Justice who are potentially without posts.
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