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11 Jun 2007 : Column 852W—continued
Middle East: Gaza Strip
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the security situation in the Gaza Strip. [140381]
Margaret Beckett: We are very concerned by the on-going violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Since 13 May, when Palestinian factional violence erupted, over 45 Palestinians have been killed. Two Israelis have been killed in Qassam rocket attacks, and over 45 Palestinians, including seven children, have been killed in Israeli air force air strikes since 17 May. We welcome Palestinian President Abbas’ efforts to restore calm and hope that all sides can exercise restraint. The cycle of violence and the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories underlines the need for the current on-going political processes. We welcome the fortnightly discussions between Israeli Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas as well as US Secretary of State Rice’s recent efforts and those of the Arab League.
Middle East: Peace Negotiations
Mr. Hague:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any progress has
been made by the Palestinian Authority towards meeting the Quartet conditions; and if she will make a statement. [140380]
Margaret Beckett: We will judge the Palestinian Government by its platform and actions and respond accordingly. We have always been willing to work with anyone who endorses the Quartet (EU, US, UN and Russia) principles: renunciation of violence; recognition of Israel; and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations. The US and EU also support this position. No Hamas members of the current Government have yet made clear that they have accepted these principles. We are working with those members of the Government who do.
Pakistan: Security
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the security situation in Pakistan; and if she will make a statement. [141741]
Dr. Howells: The security situation in Pakistan remains fragile. There is a high threat from terrorism and sectarian violence throughout the country. Internal security in the border provinces remains volatile, where there has been a series of recent attacks and suicide bombings targeted against both the authorities and the public. Since March, following the Government of Pakistan’s decision to suspend the Chief Justice, there have also been frequent, sometimes violent, protests in major cities throughout the country.
We are closely following the situation and will amend Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice if we assess that the security situation has changed.
Palestinians: Security Forces
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the UK is providing to assist the strengthening of the Palestinian security forces; and if she will make a statement. [141740]
Dr. Howells: The UK has seconded staff to the EU Police Mission in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and EU Border Assistance Mission Rafah and the US Security Co-ordinator General Dayton. In addition, we have provided non-lethal equipment to the presidential guard and radio equipment to the Palestinian civil police.
Poland: Environment Protection
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government intends to make an intervention to the European Court of Justice in the case of the European Commission and Poland, on the construction of those parts of the Augustow and Wasilkow road bypasses that will pass through the Rospuda Valley and Knyszyn Primeval Forest; and if she will make a statement. [141119]
Mr. Hoon:
In April, the European Court of Justice ordered interim measures halting construction work, and a date to be fixed for a hearing to clarify factual matters. If the case goes to a full hearing, once details
are published in the Commission's Official Journal, we will consider whether to intervene.
Russia: Estonia
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to (a) Russia and (b) Estonia on the recent confrontation over the movement of a war memorial; and if she will make a statement. [138144]
Mr. Hoon: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not made any recent representations to either the Russian or Estonian governments on the dispute over the relocation of the “Bronze Soldier” war memorial. The Estonian Foreign Minister briefed my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and other EU Foreign Ministers on relations with Russia at the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council on 14 May. 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.
Terry Lloyd
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) correspondence and (b) discussions her Department has had in response to the finding of the coroner in October 2006 that ITN correspondent Terry Lloyd was killed unlawfully; and if she will make a statement. [140908]
Dr. Howells: We have asked US officials whether they plan to take any action on Terry Lloyd’s case following the Oxfordshire coroner’s ruling last October that Mr. Lloyd was unlawfully killed. The US has confirmed that no action is planned.
The Crown Prosecution Service is considering Mr. Lloyd’s case. We await the outcome of their deliberations and will consider any further action at this time.
Prime Minister
First Ministers
Mr. Heald: To ask the Prime Minister what the status was of the meeting with the Welsh First Minister and the Scottish First Minister in January 2007; and in what capacity he attended the meeting. [140841]
The Prime Minister: I have regular meetings and discussions with ministerial colleagues and others on a wide range of subjects. Information relating to internal meetings, discussion and advice is not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.
Islam: Conferences
Mr. Paul Goodman: To ask the Prime Minister whether his Office helped to organise the guest list for the recent conference on Muslims and Islam in the World Today held by Cambridge university in London. [141342]
The Prime Minister: Cambridge university organised the conference on 4 June, in consultation with a number of partners including the Coexist Foundation, which is an interfaith charity, the Weidenfeld Institute for Strategic Dialogue and the Government.
Justice
Crime: Victims
Ms Keeble: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice what support her Department provides for victims of crime. [141130]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Government provide a wide range of emotional, practical and financial support to victims of crime.
The code of practice for victims of crime gives victims a statutory right to receive information, support and advice about their case.
The Government fund the voluntary organisation, Victim Support, £30 million annually to provide a nationwide service of practical and emotional support to victims and witnesses of crime. Last year almost 1.4 million people were referred to Victim Support.
The Victims' Fund, established in 2004, has so far distributed £5.25 million to fund specialist support services.
The Government fund the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority which awards about £170 million annually in financial compensation to blameless victims of violent crime (including terrorism).
In addition there are 165 witness care units in England and Wales, ensuring that witnesses receive a tailor-made service from the point of reporting a crime, so that they are supported through the court process.
Departments: Legal Costs
Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how much was spent by her Department and its predecessor on legal fees in each of the last five years. [139397]
Ms Harman: Information on how much the Department has spent on legal fees in each of the last five years cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.
Departments: Private Finance Initiative
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice what the total value of private finance initiative projects included in her Department’s balance sheet (a) is and (b) was in each of the last five years, broken down by project. [137824]
Ms Harman: Information on total capital value of on-balance sheet PFI deals by project is contained in the following table.
| £ million | |||||
| 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | |
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