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17 July 2007 : Column 249W—continued

British Overseas Territories: Departmental Responsibilities

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Ministry of Justice on the transfer of responsibility for the overseas territories from his Department; and if he will make a statement. [149913]

Meg Munn: As the Minister responsible for the overseas territories, I can confirm that there has been no discussions with the Ministry of Justice on the transfer of lead responsibility for the overseas territories from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Other Government Departments continue to support the overseas territories in their areas of responsibility.

China: Animal Welfare

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Chinese authorities on the animal welfare implications of bear bile farming. [149283]

Meg Munn: The Government remain concerned about animal welfare issues in China, including bear bile farming. We continue to seek to raise our concerns with the Chinese authorities at every appropriate opportunity, including at senior level. Most recently, my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Barry Gardiner) raised bear bile farming with Vice Minister Zhao Xuemin in July 2006. My right hon. Friend the then Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs (Mr. McCartney) raised bear bile farming with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui, also in July 2006.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Human Rights

Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of the Democratic
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Republic of Congo on the recent murder of the journalist Serge Maheshe to press for a transparent and credible investigation and eventual trial of the perpetrators. [150312]

Meg Munn: Together with European partners in Kinshasa, our ambassador in Kinshasa has publicly condemned Mr. Maheshe's murder. We made it clear to the Congolese Government that the international community was shocked by this incident and demanded that the perpetrators be brought to justice. The trial of Mr. Maheshe's alleged killers is now under way. We continue to monitor its progress.

The Government remain fully committed to the promotion and protection of human rights across the Democratic Republic of Congo. We will continue to press the Congolese authorities on the need to protect the rights of human rights defenders and call for judicial action to be brought against any perpetrators of human rights abuse.

EU Reform: Treaties

Mr. Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he has received on the legal status of the mandate agreed at the June European Council; and whether the Government are bound by that mandate. [147734]

Mr. Jim Murphy [holding answer 9 July 2007]: The Government received legal advice from Government lawyers on all aspects of the mandate for a reform treaty. The mandate is a political commitment by the Governments of member states.

Mr. Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will (a) list and (b) place in the Library all legal documents agreed at the June European Council. [147735]

Mr. Jim Murphy [holding answer 9 July 2007]: No legal documents were agreed at the June European Council. The European Council conclusions and mandate for a reform treaty are political agreements by the Governments of member states. A copy has already been placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 2 July 2007 to the right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field), Official Report, columns 898-99W, on the European Union: treaties, on what date he expects the white paper to be presented. [148367]

Mr. Jim Murphy: The Government expect to publish a White Paper setting out their approach to the intergovernmental conference (IGC) on the proposed Reform treaty to coincide with the opening of the IGC.

European Council

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which individuals, other than the then Prime Minister, represented the United Kingdom at the heads of Government Council Meeting of the European Union of 21 and 22 June 2007. [149716]


17 July 2007 : Column 251W

Mr. Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the then Foreign Secretary (Margaret Beckett) also represented the United Kingdom at the European Council.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the presidency conclusions of the European Council of 21 and 22 June 2007 (Doc. 11177/07) were agreed by all attending delegations; and when they were received by the Government. [149717]

Mr. Jim Murphy: The presidency conclusions of the European Council were agreed at the Council.

Conclusions for heads of Government to consider were presented by the presidency at the Council.

Iraq: Reconstruction

Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent on reconstruction in Iraq in each financial year since 2002-03. [148971]

Dr. Howells: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's financial contribution to reconstruction in Iraq is made principally through the tri-departmental global conflict prevention pool and the peacekeeping pool, managed jointly with the Department for International Development and Ministry of Defence.

The spend upon Iraq from these pools since 2003 is as follows:

£

2003-04

4,995,000

2004-05

28,625,000

2005-06

28,442,000

2006-07

40,947,000


We have also contributed to the NATO training mission in Iraq and to the EU Just Lex rule of law mission for Iraq.

NATO
£

2004-05

173,000

2005-06

250,000


EU Just Lex
£

2005-06

1,603,000

2006-07

2,277,000


The programmes that the FCO, DFID and MOD fund through the GCPP and the peacekeeping pool aim to build the capacity of the Iraqi Government, including support to the criminal justice system, civil society, human rights and the central Ministries in Baghdad. Spend is higher in 2006-07 than in other years, due to the implementation of a comprehensive programme of work in Basra to address governance, rule of law and security issues. MOD, DFID and FCO agreed to commit an extra £20 million over two years for Basra on top of existing funds.

The NTMI provides leadership training opportunities for the Iraqi security forces. EU Just Lex conducts out of country training for senior Iraqi police, members of
17 July 2007 : Column 252W
the judiciary and penitentiary staff. It has trained over 1,000 officers since its inception in 2005.

Kosovo: Frontiers

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Prime Minister Ceku of Kosovo on Kosovan claims to Novi, Pazar and Bujanovac in southern Serbia. [149434]

Mr. Jim Murphy: The Kosovo Assembly, in its declaration of 5 April, committed to implementing in full the comprehensive settlement for Kosovo's status proposed by UN special envoy Martti Ahtisaari. The general principles of that settlement state that

In our contacts with Prime Minister Ceku, this issue has not been raised.

Kosovo: Religious Buildings

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department has on the number of mosques which have been built in Kosovo since 1991. [149435]

Mr. Jim Murphy: According to figures provided to officials by the head imam of the Kosovo Islamic Union, of the 218 mosques destroyed during the 1990s, 147 have been reconstructed. Twenty seven new mosques have also been built.

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Saudi counterpart on Saudi Government funding for the construction of mosques in Kosovo. [149436]

Mr. Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed the issue of funding for the construction of mosques in Kosovo with his Saudi counterpart.

Lord Levy

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost to public funds was of the reception held to mark the departure of Lord Levy; and what contribution to the total cost was made by Lord Levy. [150254]

Dr. Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the then Minister for Europe (Mr. Hoon) to the hon. Member for Angus (Mr. Weir) on 12 June 2007, Official Report, column 982W. The final cost was £6,000.

As my right hon. Friend the former Foreign Secretary (Margaret Beckett) was hosting the event, all costs were met by her entertainment budget. My noble Friend Lord Levy did not contribute towards the final cost.


17 July 2007 : Column 253W

Russia: EU Economic Policy

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with his Russian counterpart on plans to bring Russia into closer economic union with the European Union. [149037]

Mr. Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has held no discussions with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on bringing Russia into closer economic union with the EU. The UK supports opening talks on a new EU-Russia partnership agreement as soon as possible, which will intensify relations across a range of issues, including economic issues.

St Helena

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the new Governor of St. Helena will be (a) named and (b) in post. [149909]

Meg Munn: The announcement of the appointment of a new governor will be made when all the recruitment procedures have been completed satisfactorily and the appointment has been approved by Her Majesty The Queen and notified formally to the current governor and St. Helena executive council. I hope that this will be achieved in order to allow the new governor to take up their post before the end of 2007.

Uganda: Politics and Government

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the well-being of Forum for Democratic Change members (a) James Musinguzi Garuga, (b) Dr. Suleiman Kigundu and (c) Joseph Musasazi Kifefe; and if he will make a statement. [147840]

Meg Munn: We have not received any specific reports on the well-being of these individuals. However, we continue to raise our concerns about the detention of the alleged members of the People's Redemption Army (PRA) with the Government of Uganda. Most recently, our high commissioner in Kampala raised this with President Museveni on 10 May.

We are aware of reports that Mr. Kifefe has been granted bail due to serious illness, although we cannot confirm this. We will continue to make further representations to the government of Uganda calling for the court proceedings relating to the PRA suspects to be expedited in a fair and just manner.

Treasury

Commuters: Tees Valley

Ms Dari Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the number of people who travel to work each day by (a) public transport and (b) private transport within and to the sub-region of the Tees Valley. [149964]


17 July 2007 : Column 254W

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 17 July 2007:

Delivery Unit

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the forward programme of work is of the Prime Minister’s delivery unit. [149228]

Andy Burnham: As set out in the written ministerial statement on machinery of government changes of 28 June 2007, the Prime Minister’s delivery unit will continue to work on the critical priorities and actions needed to strengthen delivery across Government, and on the reform of key public services, reporting to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.


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