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5 Jun 2007 : Column 458Wcontinued
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which sources of funding are available for human rights and good governance work within her Department's budget; and how much was provided under each budget line in each of the last five years. [139949]
Mr. Hoon [holding answer 4 June 2007]: For financial year 2007-08, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office global opportunities fund human rights programme has a budget of £3.2 million. Its predecessor, the GOF sustainable development fund had a budget of £3.2 million in 2006-07 and £3.5 million in 2005-06. The GOF human rights, democracy and good governance programme had a budget of £3.5 million in 2004-05. The human rights project fund had a budget of £8.5 million in 2003-04 and £7.4 million in 2002-03.
Since the establishment of the GOF, some of the regional GOF programmes such as Reuniting Europe and Engaging with the Islamic World have also supported human rights work as well as the human rights programme itself.
Funding for human rights related activities is also provided from our public diplomacy fund, Chevening programme, the global conflict prevention pool and directorate programme budgets. The FCO also provides grant-in-aid to organisations that carry out
human rights related activity such as the BBC World Service, the British Council and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. The Westminster Foundation for Democracy received £4.16 million as a grant-in-aid in 2002-03 and has received £4.1 million in each subsequent year.
All of these funds contribute to and support the FCO's lobbying and advocacy work for human rights through our network of embassies and missions around the world.
Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations her Department has made to the Government of Pakistan on the draft Apostasy Bill in that country. [140554]
Dr. Howells: We regularly raise our human rights concerns with the Government of Pakistan, including those pertaining to legislation affecting religious minorities. Officials from our high commission in Islamabad will continue to monitor the progress of the draft Apostasy Bill. Together with our EU partners, we will continue to encourage the Government of Pakistan to treat all citizens fairly in the interests of equality.
Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations her Department has made to the Government of Pakistan over the treatment of Christians in Charsadda, North-West Frontier Province. [140555]
Dr. Howells: We regularly raise our concerns over the situation of religious minorities with the Government of Pakistan, bilaterally and together with our EU partners. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and our high commission in Islamabad are aware of this case, and will continue to monitor the situation.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Governments policy is on the detection and arrest of Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic; and whether the Government are providing assistance to achieve their arrest. [139625]
Margaret Beckett: Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic are accused of some of the most appalling crimes committed in Europe since World War II and we are committed to seeing them arrested and transferred to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in the Hague. We continue to work closely with the ICTY and the international community to bring all indicted war criminals to justice. We also continue to make clear to countries of the region their obligation to co-operate fully with the Tribunal, as emphasised in UN Security Council Resolutions 1534.
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the UK's relations with Sri Lanka. [139963]
Dr. Howells: As I told the House on 2 May 2007, Official Report, column 1557, Britain is a friend of Sri Lanka but greatly concerned about the situation there. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I have stated our willingness to help find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka that can offer a bright future for all the people of the country. The Government of Sri Lanka welcome our engagement. We are ready to talk to all parties to the conflict if this can help.
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka. [139965]
Dr. Howells: As I told the House during the debate on Sri Lanka on 2 May 2007, Official Report, columns 1551-57, repeated incidents of intimidation, disappearances, extra-judicial killings and violence by paramilitary groups in Sri Lanka are a matter of serious concern to the UK and our international partners. Tragically, it is innocent civilians who continue to bear the brunt of the deteriorating human rights situation.
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I have made clear to the Government of Sri Lanka the need to bring to an end the culture of impunity and to investigate fully and transparently allegations of human rights violations to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. We shall continue to raise our concerns with the Sri Lankan Government and to draw attention to the shameful human rights record of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the prospects for a resumption of peace talks in Sri Lanka; and if she will make a statement. [139964]
Dr. Howells: The escalation of the conflict in Sri Lanka is deeply worrying. The ongoing violence has created an atmosphere of extreme mistrust and polarisation, which fuels further antagonism. We stand ready to talk to all parties to the conflict if that can help with the search for a solution. We have made clear our strong belief that peace must be pursued through political means. Both sides must accept that military victory is not possible. There must be an end to the culture of impunity. We continue to stress to the Government of Sri Lanka the need to set out a credible framework for a negotiated settlement that can satisfy the legitimate aspirations of all Sri Lankans.
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the political situation in Sri Lanka. [139793]
Dr. Howells: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made to the House on 2 May 2007, Official Report, columns 1551-57).
Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in deploying an effective peacekeeping force to protect civilians in Darfur. [139291]
Mr. Hoon: An effective peacekeeping force is needed to protect citizens in Darfur. All parties agreed in Addis Ababa in November last year that this would involve a phased increase of UN support to the African Union mission in Sudan (AMIS) culminating in a joint AU-UN hybrid force. We are pressing the AU and UN to ensure that this force is effective and deployed as soon as possible.
The initial stage of UN assistance to AMIS (the light support package) is approximately 80 per cent. deployed. The Government of Sudan have agreed the 3,000 strong second stage (the heavy support package) and the UN is generating the required personnel and assets.
The details of the hybrid force are being agreed between the AU and UN. The Government of Sudan must accept the hybrid and facilitate its deployment. If they do not co-operate, we will be prepared to introduce tougher sanctions.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with her European counterparts on the election of the Zimbabwean Environment and Tourism Minister, Francis Nhema, as Chairman of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development; whether he remains subject to a travel ban under the EU Council Common Position 2007/120/CFSP, 19 February 2007; and whether Mr. Nhema will be denied entry to, or transit through, European Union member states when travelling on UNCSD business. [138567]
Margaret Beckett:
The EU called for the vote against the nomination of Francis Nhema as chairman of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and the UK, with 20 other EU and like-minded states, voted against his candidacy. On behalf of all EU member states, the EU presidency made a statement following the vote which expressed deep concern that a representative from Zimbabwe should become chair as this will have a negative impact on the Commissions work and on the Commissions credibility. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, and my hon. Friend the Minister for Climate Change and the
Environment, Ian Pearson, on behalf of the Government, have since publicly condemned the decision to appoint a Zimbabwe Minister to this position.
Francis Nhema remains subject to a travel ban under the EU common position and will be denied a visa to visit or transit EU member states, unless one of the exemptions covered by article 4 of the Council common position 2004/161/CFSP applies. A copy of this document will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress his Department has made in developing the British Corps to work on global environmental challenges referred to in his announcement of 31 January 2005. [140140]
Mr. Timms: On 31 January 2005, the Chancellor gave a speech at the HM Treasury volunteering conference, marking the beginning of the Year of the Volunteer. The Chancellor referred to a number of volunteering initiatives, including the work of the Russell commission on how to inspire 1 million more young volunteers. The Russell commission reported in March 2005 and the Government are implementing the recommendations through investment in a new youth volunteering organisation, v. In its first year, v generated 100,000 volunteering opportunities for young people.
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he had on vulture funds at the recent G8 finance meeting; and if he will make a statement. [139600]
Ed Balls: As the Chancellor set out in his parliamentary statement of 10 May 2007, Official Report, column 16WS, the Government deplore the actions of so-called vulture funds and is determined to limit the damage done by such funds.
The Chancellor raised this issue with his G8 colleagues at their meeting in Potsdam on 19 May, and set out the Government's proposals for action. G8 Ministers expressed their concern about the actions of some litigating creditors against heavily indebted poor countries, and agreed to work together to identify measures to tackle this problem, based on the work of the Paris Club.
The Paris Club met on 22 May and discussed the issues. They have confirmed their commitment to the full implementation of the heavily indebted poor countries initiative; to avoiding selling their claims on HIPC countries to other creditors who do not intend to provide debt relief under the HIPC initiative; and, in co-operation with the relevant international institutions, Paris Club creditors have agreed to intensify their work on this issue with a view to identify concrete measures to tackle this problem. See:
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what loans have received debt relief from the UK; and if he will make a statement; [139601]
(2) what outstanding UK Government loans to other states there are. [139602]
Ed Balls: The UK Government are committed to the full implementation of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, going beyond the requirements of the initiative by giving 100 per cent. flow relief at decision point and 100 per cent. debt stock cancellation at completion point. The UK also holds in trust any loan repayments made since 2000 by HIPC countries, who have not yet begun to receive debt relief under the HIPC initiative, and returns them at HIPC completion Point.
The Department for International Development no longer gives official development assistance in the form of loans. The Government cancelled existing aid loans to the poorest countries under its retrospective terms adjustment policy, and under the Commonwealth debt initiative delivers debt relief to the poorest Commonwealth countries committed to poverty reduction. The few outstanding loans are to countries that were middle or high income countries at the time the loans were cancelled.
In 1999, a portfolio of loans to public sector and parastatal bodies previously held by the Commonwealth development corporation were transferred to DFID following CDCs part privatisation. For HIPC countries, repayments are held in trust until countries qualify for the HIPC Initiative, then payments are suspended and the loans are cancelled once they complete the HIPC process.
The UKs Export Credit Guarantee Department does not make loans to other states. ECGD guarantees payment for specific contracts involving UK suppliers. Over time, ECGD has made a number of corresponding payments to lenders in respect of these guarantees, and some of these have been consolidated into debt agreements with particular debtor countries, although these do not constitute loans. In this regard ECGD has delivered significant amounts of debt relief through the Paris Club.
I also refer the hon. Member to my answer of 19 February 2007, Official Report, column 474W, which sets out the debt cancellation granted by ECGD since 2004, and the answers given by the Secretary of State for International Development on 15 January 2007, Official Report, column 743W, which sets out the debt cancellation that the CDC group and the Department for International Development have given since 2004.
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the responsible lenders charter. [139603]
Ed Balls: The UK has been a leading proponent of international efforts to relieve the debt burden of the poorest and most heavily indebted countries, to free up resources for poverty reduction. Over the last 10 years, 30 heavily indebted poor countries have received debt relief worth more than $100 million, and another 10 countries could qualify for debt relief when they meet the criteria.
Access to new finance can play an important role in supporting economic growth in HIPC countries. Borrowers and lenders have a joint responsibility in ensuring that new lending supports sustainable economic development. In this context, we welcome the development of a charter for responsible lending and will continue to work with our international partners to take this forward.
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance he has given to Government Departments on assessing the through life costs of capital projects. [140049]
John Healey: Guidance on cost benefit appraisal and evaluation in central Government is set out in The Green Book. Chapter 5 covers appraising the options. Paragraph 5.10 advises that
costs and benefits should normally be extended to cover the period of the useful lifetime of the assets encompassed by the options under consideration.
The Treasurys PFI value for money assessment guidance also provides information on how whole life costs should be assessed in appraisal of PFI and conventional procurement.
Greg Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from Reverend Brian Fortnum of St. Marks church, Tunbridge Wells, dated 23 March 2007, on the impact of the budget on Gift Aid. [140608]
Ed Balls [holding answer 4 June 2007]: There is no record of this correspondence being received. A copy of Mr. Fortnums letter has been provided by the hon. Member and a reply will be sent as soon as possible.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times his Department was found to have been in breach of the Data Protection Act 1998 in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [139204]
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