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22 May 2007 : Column 1218Wcontinued
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will place in the Library a copy of her Department's response to the European Commission's 2006 White Paper on a European Communications Policy. [138139]
Mr. Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's response to the Commission's 2006 White Paper on a European Communications Policy was sent to the Chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee and the Chairman of the House of Lords Select Committee on the EU on 26 October 2006.
A copy will also be placed in the Library of the House and I will arrange for a copy to be sent to the hon. Member.
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff were employed in UK embassies abroad in each year since 1980. [137580]
Mr. Hoon: The following table sets out the number of staff employed at Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) posts overseas on 1 April for each year since 1995. Figures are not available for the year 2000.
We do not hold records centrally of staff numbers in embassies and consulates overseas for years prior to 1995. To compile those data would incur disproportionate cost.
Number of UK based staff | Number of locally engaged staff | |
(1) A new Management Information system was introduced in 2004. The figures for the transition period in 2003 are less reliable: they are likely to be an underestimate. |
In addition there are a small number of staff who are employed locally and are not paid through the FCO payroll. These numbers are not held centrally and have not been included.
The overall increase in staffing at our posts overseas is due to a rise in the number of staff delivering consular and visa services to the public. These staff positions are funded out of revenue generated by the sale of passports and visas. Their number is therefore dependent on demand. This increase masks a significant reduction over the same period in the number of staff, funded from central budgets, performing other diplomatic functions.
Mr. Hague:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 25 April 2007, Official Report, column 1175W, on Iraq, how many requests for resettlement assistance have been received from Iraqi citizens working for the
British army deployed in Southern Iraq; in which countries these requests have been received; and how many have been (a) accepted and (b) rejected. [136491]
Mr. Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
In the same manner as most other international resettlement countries the UK does not operate a bespoke resettlement programme through which an individual can apply directly to a UK overseas post. Therefore the statistics requested are not available.
In order to qualify for resettlement the established recognised international process is that an individual seeking protection must first register with the UNHCR who will initially decide whether it is appropriate to afford Mandate Refugee status. If they are given Mandate Refugee status the UNHCR will, in due course, decide which durable solution is appropriate. A very small minority of refugees only are referred by the UNHCR for resettlement and it is their decision as to which of the most vulnerable cases should take priority. Under these referral arrangements the UK currently accepts around 500 people for resettlement per year.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the United Kingdom's responsibilities for Iraqi refugees under international law since 2003. [136497]
Mr. Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
The United Kingdom's responsibilities in international law for refugees, including Iraqi refugees can be found in the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol (together "the Convention").
Like all other refugees, Iraqi refugees are entitled to the protection of the Convention. Those who are in the United Kingdom (or at a UK port of entry) and who are assessed by the UK as falling within the terms of the Convention are entitled to receive protection in the UK.
Under the Convention, refugees are people who are outside the country of their nationality because of a well founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion and who, because of this fear, are unwilling or unable to avail themselves of the protection of their national authorities. Certain individuals can be excluded from protection where they commit certain serious acts or crimes.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will place in the Library a list of private military companies operating in Iraq indicating in each case in which country they are registered. [138811]
Mr. McCartney: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not keep a record of private military and security companies (PMSCs) operating in Iraq as this is a matter for the Government of Iraq. We are aware of 12 UK mainland registered PMSCs operating in Iraq:
Aegis;
ArmorGroup;
Blue Hackle;
BritAm Defence;
Centurion;
CRG;
Erinys International;
Janusian;
GardaWorld;
Olive;
Pilgrims; and
Global Strategies Group.
The trade association, Private Security Company Association of Iraq (PSCAI) (www.pscai.org/fulllist2.html) lists further companies, but this list is not exhaustive, as membership of the PSCAI is not compulsory.
Mr. Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports she has received on the political situation in Kyrgyzstan; and if she will make a statement. [138547]
Mr. Hoon: Our non-resident ambassador to Kyrgyzstan (based in Almaty, Kazakhstan) and his staff regularly visit Kyrgyzstan and report on the political situation there. Since the Opposition led demonstrations in Bishkek in April, the political situation in Kyrgyzstan has been more stable. The Opposition failed to achieve its objective of ousting President Bakiev through demonstrations.
We welcome President Bakievs initiative to set up a working group under Prime Minister Atambayev to look at further amendment of the constitution and will be monitoring the working groups discussions.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response she has made to French proposals to create a union of Mediterranean countries. [138008]
Mr. McCartney: We look forward to discussing this proposal with the French Government as and when details emerge.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the political situation in Pakistan. [138007]
Mr. McCartney: We are concerned about recent political tensions in Pakistan. In particular, we condemn the violence seen on the weekend of 12 May in Karachi and urge restraint on all parties. We will continue to watch the situation closely.
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the Russian Government on anti-Estonian demonstrations. [138142]
Mr. Hoon: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not made any representations to the Russian Government on anti-Estonian demonstrations following the relocation of the "Bronze Soldier" war memorial. The Government fully support the EU presidency and NATO statements, which expressed grave concern over the safety of the Estonian embassy and its staff in Russia, and urged Russia to fulfil its international obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. We see this as an internal matter for Estonia and we recognise the right of the Estonian Government to relocate memorials and war graves. We note this has been done with due sensitivity and respect.
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports her Department has received of the recent alleged Russian cyber warfare attacks on Estonian Government sites; and if she will make a statement. [138143]
Mr. Hoon: The Government are aware of the recent cyber attacks on Estonian websites. Our embassy in Tallinn has been following the situation closely. We are deeply concerned by this development and we fully support the ongoing efforts by NATO to help the Estonian authorities investigate this matter further.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the German Presidency on the Druzhba pipeline; what assessment she has made of the implications of the situation for EU-Russian relations; and if she will make a statement. [138522]
Mr. Hoon: EU Foreign Ministers considered various aspects of the relationship between the EU and Russia, including supplies through the Druzhba pipeline, at the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) on 14 May as part of their preparations for EU/Russia Summit in Samara on 17-18 May.
Member states did not agree at the GAERC that talks on a successor to the current EU-Russia Partnership and Co-operation Agreement could begin at the Summit. We believe it would be better if talks started sooner rather than later. But the substance of the negotiations is far more important than when they begin.
Mr. Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the human rights situation in Uzbekistan; and if she will make a statement. [138546]
Mr. Hoon: We remain seriously concerned about human rights in Uzbekistan and closely monitor the situation there, with our EU partners. On individual cases, we welcome the fact that journalist and human rights defender, Umida Niyazova, has been released, but urge the Uzbek Government to lift the conditions attached to her suspended sentence. We also welcome the fact that EU experts saw Saidajon Zainabiddinov in April, but we urge the Uzbek authorities to allow families access to imprisoned relatives eg the human rights defender, Mutabar Tojibayeva, and party leader, Sanjar Umarov. We hope that the Uzbek authorities will give a sympathetic hearing to Gulbahor Turayevas appeal.
On Uzbekistans co-operation with international organisations, we hope that the International Committee of the Red Cross will soon be able to resume visiting prisons. We regret that the Goethe Institute is now facing difficulties in Tashkent.
We welcome the start of the EU-Uzbekistan Human Rights Dialogue. On 14 May, the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council decided to keep measures against Uzbekistan under review on the basis of the criteria set out in previous Council conclusions, taking into account the actions of the Uzbek Government in the area of human rights, including the results of the human rights dialogue. The Council urged Uzbekistan to implement fully its international obligations relating to human rights, rule of law and fundamental freedoms.
13. Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been allocated for spending on mental health support services in Coventry in 2007-08; and if she will make a statement. [138348]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Coventry Teaching Primary Care Trust has provided Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust with £46 million for 2007-08. This will provide mental health, learning disability and substance misuse services across Coventry and Warwickshire.
23. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of trends in the numbers of people diagnosed with mental illness in England. [138358]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Department commissions regular surveys of psychiatric morbidity among different population groups. The survey carried out in 2000 among adults living in private households, which was a repeat of the first such survey in 1993, found no significant change in the overall rates for any neurotic or psychotic disorder. A further survey has been commissioned and is expected to report in 2008.
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mentally ill patients have been accepted into hospitals under section 135 of the Mental Health Act 1983. [137018]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The numbers of place of safety detentions in England under section 135 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in all hospital facilities since April 1988 are shown in the table.
Number | |
Source: DH and Information Centre published data KH15, K037 and KP 90. |
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