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18 Jun 2007 : Column 1473W—continued
Cyprus: Military Bases
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place in the last 12 months between the UK Government and the Government of Cyprus on the status of the British Sovereign base areas in Cyprus. [143051]
Mr. Hoon: No formal discussions have taken place in the last 12 months between the Government and the Government of the Republic of Cyprus on the status of the Sovereign Base Area (SBAs). The UK’s sovereignty over the bases, reaffirmed in the 1960 Treaty of Establishment, is not in question.
The offer under the Annan Plan to cede part of the territory of the SBAs to a reunited Republic of Cyprus fell away following the failure of the plan. But we will look favourably on renewing the offer as part of a future settlement.
The Sovereign Base Area administration maintains open and regular dialogue with the Republic of Cyprus, with excellent co-operation on a range of issues.
Departments: Mittal Steel
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which events held by (a) her Department and (b) UK embassies have been sponsored by Mittal Steel since 1997. [141910]
Mr. McCartney:
The Indian company Mittal Steel has not sponsored any events held at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, at our High Commission in New Delhi, or at other British diplomatic posts in
India. Information on sponsored events hosted at British diplomatic posts is not held centrally; to conduct a survey of other posts throughout the world would incur disproportionate cost.
Departments: Official Engagements
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) external and (b) internal appointments (i) she and (ii) her Ministers attended in each week of March 2007. [130987]
Margaret Beckett: Ministers and civil servants meet a large number of people and groups in the course of their official duties. Cabinet, Cabinet Committee and parliamentary commitments of Ministers are already in the public domain. Details of all Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Ministers' meetings with external interest groups for the period the right hon. Member has specified follow. However, it is not standard practice for Ministers to disclose details of internal meetings and meetings with foreign governments and international organisations as this may prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs and formulation of Government policy.
6 March—Labour Friends of Israel (to discuss Israel and related matters).
14 March—FCO employee trade unions (to discuss FCO/union issues).
29 March—Amicus and T and G (to discuss Colombia).
Minister for Europe ( Mr. Hoon)
12 March—Eurostar (to discuss new East Midlands link to Europe).
21 March—Trade Union Congress (to discuss Europe issues).
Minister for the Middle East ( Dr. Howells)
8 March—president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) (to
discuss ICRC's work in the Middle East).
12 March—chairman and representatives of the Zionist Federation (to discuss the Zionist Federation's plans for commemorating the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel).
14 March—director of International Operations, Save the Children (to discuss Save the Children's work in the middle east, south Asia and Afghanistan).
Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs (Mr. McCartney)
1 March—Black Country Metals—plans for UK trade and investment engineering sector.
1 March—Great Britain China Centre—Human Rights Project Work.
6 March—Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA)—ROSPA's current work and relationship with the Department of Trade and Industry.
6 March—TrustMark—Promotion of the TrustMark consumer work.
7 March—China Britain Business Council—introductory meeting.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Lord Triesman of Tottenham)
22 March—speech—The Politics and Economics Society of St. Paul's School.
22 March—meeting with members of the National Executive Committee to discuss Columbia.
Departments: Pressure Groups
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings took place between Ministers in her Department and outside interest groups between 1 January and 31 March; and what the date was of each such meeting. [131031]
Margaret Beckett: Ministers and civil servants meet a large number of people and groups in the course of their official duties. Cabinet, Cabinet Committee and parliamentary commitments of Ministers are already in the public domain. Listed as follows are details of all Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Minister’ meetings with outside interest groups for the period the hon. Member has specified.
9 January—British Overseas Aid Group (to discuss overseas conflict issues).
9 January—Standard Chartered Bank (to discuss global operations).
23 January—UN Association (to discuss UN matters).
29 January—International Crisis Group (to discuss current global issues).
6 March—Labour Friends of Israel (to discuss Israel and related matters).
14 March—FCO employee trade unions (to discuss union matters).
29 March—Amicus and T and G (to discuss Colombia).
Minister for Europe (Geoff Hoon)
15 January—Burson Marsteller (to discuss Government Policy).
17 January—Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (to discuss EU Wildlife Legislation).
20 February—Confederation of British Industry (to discuss European business issues).
12 March—Eurostar (to discuss new East Midland link to Europe).
21 March—Trade Union Congress (TUC) (to discuss Europe issues).
Minister for the Middle East (Kim Howells)
18 January—Head of Hajj Advisory Group and Chief Medical Adviser—(to discuss UK Delegation to Hajj 2007).
22 January—Chairman of Israeli TUC—(to brief on the work of the Israeli TUC).
8 March—President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)—(to discuss ICRC’s work in the Middle East).
12 March—Chairman and Representatives of the Zionist Federation—(to discuss the Zionist Federation’s plans for commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the State of Israel).
14 March—Director of International Operations, Save the Children—(to discuss Save the Children’s work in the Middle East, South Asia and Afghanistan).
Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs (Ian McCartney)
9 January—T and G—(to discuss the poultry industry).
11 January—Non-governmental organisation—(to discuss Economic Partnership Agreements).
16 January—Spirits Industry—(to discuss Market Access/Trade Barrier Issues)
25 January—Caritas International—(to make contact with the Vatican).
6 February—Lloyds TSB—(general discussion on Lloyds position on a number of different issues).
22 February—British Bankers Association—(to discuss protection for consumers in hamper industry).
28 February—Caterpillar—(to discuss emerging Markets and construction).
1 March—Black Country Metals—(to discuss plans for UK Trade and Investment engineering sector).
1 March—Great Britain China Centre—Human Rights Project Work.
6 March—Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA)—(to discuss the ROSPA’s current work).
6 March—TrustMark—(to discuss the promotion of the TrustMark consumer work).
7 March—China Britain Business Council—(an introductory meeting).
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Lord Triesman of Tottenham)
22 March—Members of the National Executive Committee—(to discuss Columbia).
Departments: Remploy
Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) services and (b) products her Department has procured from Remploy in the last 12 months; and at what cost. [143795]
Mr. Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no record of procuring services or products from Remploy in the last 12 months.
Deportation
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether HM High Commission in Kingston has (a) served a notice of refusal against revocation of a deportation order on Mr. E.A., husband of Mrs. J.A. of Aylesbury (reference A505053), and (b) supplied Mr. E.A. with information about his rights of appeal. [142630]
Dr. Howells: Our high commission in Kingston has not served a refusal notice or any associated appeal papers to Mr. E.A. against the revocation of his deportation order; the high commission has not yet received the refusal notice from the Home Office Border and Immigration Agency.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether HM High Commission in Kingston has received from the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate the notices of refusal and associated papers concerning the application for revocation of a deportation order by Mr. E.A., husband of Mrs. J.A. of Aylesbury (reference A505053). [142631]
Dr. Howells: Our high commission in Kingston has not received the refusal notice or any associated papers from the Home Office Border and Immigration Agency concerning the application for revocation of a deportation order by Mr. E.A. UKvisas has contacted the Border and Immigration Agency to request a new copy of the refusal notice for the high commission to serve to Mr. E.A. as soon as possible.
Diplomatic Relations
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which nations have been in breach of the Vienna Convention in their dealings with UK citizens since 1 May 1997; and if she will make a statement. [143044]
Dr. Howells: Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, states are under an obligation, when requested to do so by a foreign national arrested or detained, to notify their consular representatives and that consular representatives shall be free to communicate with nationals of the sending state and to have access to them.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not keep a central record of those states which may have breached this obligation. But we take very seriously any complaint that signatories to the Convention have not fulfilled this obligation, and we will continue to make representations with host Governments on a case by case basis. We also work with host Governments to promote greater awareness of their obligation with regard to British nationals among their law enforcement authorities, for example poster campaigns where posters are displayed in local police stations.
East Timor: Politics and Government
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps she is taking to assist in ensuring that parliamentary elections in East Timor are free and fair. [143227]
Mr. McCartney: The UK is working through the UN Security Council to ensure that the East Timorese parliamentary elections are held in a free and fair manner. We supported the Security Council statement which was issued following the successful presidential elections, calling upon all parties in East Timor to ensure that the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for 30 June take place in a free, fair and peaceful environment.
The EU has deployed an Election Observer Mission, including one British national, to East Timor for a period of five weeks, to observe and report on the forthcoming elections.
In addition an official from our embassy in Jakarta will visit East Timor shortly to stress the importance of ensuring that the elections are free and fair.
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings the British ambassador in Jakarta has had with (a) the UN Mission in East Timor and (b) the East Timorese Government to discuss the conduct of the parliamentary elections. [143228]
Mr. McCartney:
Our ambassador in Jakarta has not had any meetings with the UN Mission to East Timor (UNMIT) or the East Timorese Government specifically to discuss the conduct of the forthcoming parliamentary elections in East Timor. An official from our embassy in Jakarta will visit Dili shortly and plans to raise this issue with UNMIT and the East Timorese Government,
and highlight the importance of ensuring the elections are conducted in a fair and peaceful manner.
We welcome the fact that all the 16 competing parties have signed both an electoral Code of Conduct and a Political Party Accord, committing themselves to due process in the elections and democratic principles of governance after them. We continue to work through the UN, and with EU partners, to support the democratic process in East Timor.
European Constitution Treaty
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with her (a) Polish and (b) Czech counterparts on the EU Constitution. [140220]
Mr. Hoon: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I have frequent contact will all our EU counterparts, including Polish and Czech Foreign Ministers. Discussions cover a wider range of issues, including the way forward on EU institutional reform.
G8
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will (a) place in the Library copies of all documents circulated by the United Kingdom at the G8 Heads of Government meeting in Heiligendamm, (b) publish those documents on the appropriate departmental website and (c) give the URL of each document so published. [143308]
Mr. McCartney: The German G8 Presidency circulated all documents at the G8 Heads of Government meeting in Heiligendamm. Copies of all final summit communiqués have been placed in the Library of the House. Further copies can be found at:
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