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Sierra Leone: Prisons

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of prisoners' rights and living conditions in Sierra Leone. [146932]

Meg Munn: The UN has recently published a report ‘Behind Walls: An Inventory and Assessment of Prisons in Sierra Leone’ which documents the state of prisoners' living conditions in Sierra Leone. The work of the Department for International Development-funded justice sector development programme (JSDP) in Sierra Leone informed the preparation of the report and provided some of the information it contains.

The JSDP is a £25 million, five-year programme, which started in 2005 and includes extensive work on prisoners' rights and living conditions. Some of the JSDP work already carried out has included: the development of a Best Practice-Case Management handbook that identified problems across the criminal justice system and provided training to tackle the problems identified, which led to a reduction in the remand rate from 70 per cent. to 52 per cent. in prisons in the last year; the rehabilitation of Moyamba Prison and improvements at Kenema Prison which have improved living conditions and reduced overcrowding; the construction of water wells at Pujehun and Bo Prison; and the renovation and furnishing of a school and home for children who otherwise would have been kept in adult prisons.

In addition, the JSDP is helping the Prison Service to develop a strategic plan which takes into account the need to improve prisoners' rights and living conditions.


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Simon Mann

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) representations he has made and (b) reports he has received on the (i) imprisonment and (ii) welfare of Simon Mann in Harare; and if he will make a statement. [146858]

Meg Munn: When a British national is detained overseas, our principal role is to take an interest in their welfare. Consular officials have visited Simon Mann regularly and, where appropriate, raised any concerns with the Zimbabwean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Sudan: Armed Conflict

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with colleagues in (a) NATO, (b) the European Union and (c) the United Nations Security Council on the ending of offensive Sudanese flights over Darfur. [146655]

Meg Munn: We are working with international partners in the UN Security Council to press both the African Union (AU) and the Panel of Experts to notify the UN Sanctions Committee of any instances of offensive military flights in Darfur.

We will pursue further UN sanctions if the Government of Sudan do not cease their aerial bombardment of Darfur; and if it or the rebel movements impede deployment of the AU-UN hybrid peacekeeping force or the relief efforts of the humanitarian agencies, or fail to engage on the political process, or commits human rights violations. Further measures would include better monitoring of the illegal use of aircraft in Darfur, with an enforced no fly zone a possibility for the future. We would need to assess the logistical challenges of implementation and impact on the humanitarian effort of any measures.

Sudan: Peace Keeping Operations

Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the timetable for the full deployment of the combined African Union-United Nations peacekeeping force to Sudan; what decisions were made at the enlarged Contact Group meeting in Paris; and if he will make a statement. [146900]

Meg Munn: The UN and African Union (AU) are still negotiating the timetable for the deployment of the AU-UN hybrid force for Darfur. We want the force to deploy as soon as possible.

My noble Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, attended the enlarged Sudan Contact Group meeting in Paris on 25 June which called on all to agree on the earliest possible date for deployment. The meeting also stressed the need to push ahead with the political process to resolve the Darfur crisis.


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Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) proposed mandate and (b) command and control structure will be for the joint African Union-United Nations deployment to Darfur; and if he will make a statement. [146902]

Meg Munn: The proposed mandate of the joint African Union (AU)—UN peacekeeping force for Darfur is contained in the report produced by the AU and UN and presented to the Government of Sudan in Addis Ababa on 12 June. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library of the House. The Peace and Security Council of the AU endorsed this proposed mandate on 22 June. We are preparing a UN Security Council Resolution with other Security Council members that will mandate the UN elements of the force.

The command of the force will be unified to UN standards and principles. This is necessary for it to be effective and to secure UN troop contributors and funding. The new AU Mission in Sudan Force Commander, Nigerian General Agwai, will take over as Force Commander of the hybrid mission when it deploys. He will report to the newly appointed Joint Special Representative, Rodolphe Adada, who reports to both the UN and AU, which agreed these two appointments.

Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with colleagues within NATO, the European Union and the UN Security Council on ending offensive Sudanese flights over Darfur; and if he will make a statement. [146903]

Meg Munn: We are working with international partners in the UN Security Council to press both the African Union (AU) and the Panel of Experts to notify the UN Sanctions Committee of any instances of offensive military flights in Darfur.

We will pursue further UN sanctions if the Government of Sudan does not cease its aerial bombardment of Darfur; and if it or the rebel movements impede deployment of the AU-UN hybrid peacekeeping force or the relief efforts of the humanitarian agencies, or fail to engage on the political process, or commit human rights violations. Further measures would include better monitoring of the illegal use of aircraft in Darfur, with an enforced no fly zone a possibility for the future. We would need to assess the logistical challenges of implementation and impact on the humanitarian effort of any measures.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the timetable is for the full deployment of the African Union-United Nations force in Darfur; and what progress was made at the Contact Group Meeting in Paris. [147026]

Meg Munn: The UN and African Union (AU) are still negotiating the timetable for the deployment of the AU-UN hybrid force for Darfur. We want the force to deploy as soon as possible.

My noble Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, attended the enlarged Sudan Contact Group meeting in Paris on
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25 June which called on all to agree on the earliest possible date for deployment. The meeting also stressed the need to push ahead with the political process to resolve the Darfur crisis.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to (a) expedite the deployment of the full African Union-United Nations force to Darfur and (b) encourage other countries to act in a similar manner; and if he will take steps to establish a public and verifiable timetable to keep the Sudanese Government to its commitments to accept the joint force. [147202]

Meg Munn: We are pressing the African Union (AU) and UN to deploy the AU-UN hybrid force as quickly as possible. We are preparing a draft UN Security Council Resolution, with other Security Council members, to mandate the force which will give the UN the authority it needs to begin preparations for deployment later this year. The Peace and Security Council of the AU has already endorsed the proposed mandate for the force.

We have also made clear to the Government of Sudan that we would consider tougher measures if they were to take action which impeded the deployment of this force.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of whether the Joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping force in Sudan will be under overall United Nations control. [146610]

Meg Munn: The command of the African Union (AU)-UN hybrid peacekeeping force will be unified to UN standards and principles. This is necessary for the force to be effective, and to secure UN troop contributors and funding. The new AU Mission in Sudan Force Commander, Nigerian General Agwai, will take over as Force Commander of the hybrid mission when it deploys. He will report to the newly appointed Joint Special Representative, Rodolphe Adada, who reports to both the UN and AU, which agreed these two appointments.

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her assessment is of the likely timetable for the full deployment of the Joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping force to Sudan; and if she will make a statement on the decisions reached at the enlarged Contact Group meeting in Paris. [146623]

Meg Munn: The UN and African Union (AU) are still negotiating the timetable for the deployment of the AU-UN hybrid force for Darfur. We want the force to deploy as soon as possible.

My noble Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, attended the enlarged Sudan Contact Group meeting in Paris on
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25 June which called on all to agree on the earliest possible date for deployment. The meeting also stressed the need to push ahead with the political process to resolve the Darfur crisis.

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will place in the Library a copy of the proposed mandate for the Joint African Union-United Nations deployment to Darfur. [146625]

Meg Munn: The proposed mandate is available in the Library of the House: it is contained in the joint report for a hybrid peacekeeping force produced by the African Union (AU) and UN and presented to the Government of Sudan in Addis Ababa on 12 June.

The Peace and Security Council of the AU endorsed the proposed mandate on 22 June. It also requested that the UN Security Council authorise urgently its deployment. We are preparing a UN Security Council Resolution with other Security Council members that will mandate the force.

Uganda: Diplomatic Relations

Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to President Museveni of Uganda following the President's statement that the UK was responsible for Zimbabwe's economic and social problems. [146595]

Meg Munn: We are not aware that President Museveni has recently made such a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Member for Makerfield (Mr. McCartney), the then Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, gave to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llywd) on 25 June 2007, Official Report, column 225W.

Innovation, Universities and Skills

National Institute for Medical Research

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what views have been expressed by (a) the London Development Agency and (b) other advisers on the redevelopment of the National Institute for Medical Research at Mill Hill. [143077]

Ian Pearson: This is a matter for the Medical Research Council (MRC). I have asked MRC’s Chief Executive Professor Colin Blakemore, to reply to the hon. Member.

Health

Chiltern Health Profile 2007

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what methodology was used to calculate the ecological footprint of a Chiltern resident as set out in his Department’s publication, Chiltern Health Profile 2007. [146288]


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Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 29 June 2007]: The ecological footprint is an indicator of ecological sustainability from a consumption perspective. It represents the environmental cost (resource use and environmental degradation) associated with people’s lifestyle choice and the goods and services they buy.

The use of this sustainability indicator as the basis for policy and decision making at local authority level is in line with the United Kingdom’s Government Sustainable Development Strategy “Securing the Future” (March 2005).

The calculations are produced by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) based at the University of York using the UK National Footprint Account and a standardised environmental-economic method of calculation applied to all local authorities, based on local expenditure data.

SEI uses an environmental input-output model to calculate the Ecological Footprint (EF) of local authority Areas in the UK. A short description of the method can be found at:

A detailed description of the EF Indicator is at:

The Stockholm Environment Institute in York can provide specific information concerning the Chiltern Health Profile 2007 and can be contacted at

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Research

Bill Etherington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what bio-medical research (a) his Department and (b) the Medical Research Council has funded into the cause or causes of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [146602]

Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 29 June 2007]: Over the last 10 years, the main part of the Department’s total expenditure on health research has been devolved to and managed by national health service organisations. That devolved funding is supporting a body of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) research. Details are available on the national research register at:

The new National Institute for Health Research South London and Maudsley NHS Trust and Institute of Psychiatry Biomedical Research Centre, funded by the Department, will undertake research on CFS/ME.

The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support biomedical research. During the period in question, MRC has funded seven research studies on CFS/ME, five of which are of direct relevance to the condition, and two related to it but of lesser relevance.

Although not currently funding any research specifically related to the biological effects of CFS/ME, the MRC remains committed to funding scientific research into all aspects of CFS/ME including evaluations of other treatments and studies into the
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biological basis of the condition. The MRC always welcome high-quality applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are judged in open competition with other demands on funding. Awards are made according to their scientific quality.

Health Profiles: Local Authorities

Mrs. Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the indicator ecological footprint included in Health Profiles of Local Authorities issued by the Public Health Observatory will be used by local government and primary care trusts to tackle health inequalities and improve health. [146787]

Dawn Primarolo: The ecological footprint indicator may be used in the Comprehensive Performance Assessment of Local Authorities. It may be used in local area agreements and community strategies developed by local strategic partnerships; and primary care trusts (PCTs) may use it or refer to it in their local delivery plans and annual public health reports.

Local authorities are responsible for strategic community planning and they have a statutory responsibility to undertake sustainability appraisal and strategic environmental impact assessments for local development frameworks. Local authorities influence environmental impacts and therefore the health of the local population, for example, through measures such as increasing recycling/re-using, less individual travel, controlled handing of environmentally harmful materials.

Public sector organisations, including local authorities and PCTs, are increasingly recognising their own ecological impact in terms of the business resources they consume and the carbon they produce as part of their daily business. They are continually developing ways of reducing their footprint.

A detailed description of the ecological footprint indicator is available at:


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