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15 Oct 2007 : Column 836W—continued


Data taken from Supply Estimates or resource accounts is not necessarily readily compatible with a near-cash/non-cash split, which is used only within the Departmental Expenditure Limit budgetary controls applied by HM Treasury. The ability of Departments to provide such a split will depend partly on the extent of reconciliations between voted provision and budgetary limits.

Departments: Publicity

Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department’s projected spending is on advertising and promotional campaigns for (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09, broken down by cost relating to (i) television, (ii) radio and (iii) print media. [155896]

Mr. Jim Murphy: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is unable to provide the forecast expenditure details on advertising and promotional campaigns for the next two financial years, as the information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Temporary Accommodation

Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 September 2007, Official Report, column 2004W, on departments: temporary accommodation, for how long the British Embassy Officer has been living in a tent in Juba, Sudan; and for what reason secure permanent accommodation has not been available for this officer hitherto. [156400]

Mr. Jim Murphy [holding answer 8 October 2007]: The officer has been living in a tent on the secure compound of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Juba since November 2005. Permanent accommodation that meets Government security requirements has not been available. Local infrastructure is poor due to the impact of the prolonged civil war there. Many other Juba-based international staff are similarly accommodated. As the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Meg Munn), noted in her answers to the hon. Member on 10 September 2007, Official Report, columns 2004-05W, and Official
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Report
, column 2008W, our Embassy in Khartoum is pursuing options to upgrade the officer's accommodation and aims to have a solution in place by early 2008.

Egypt: Religious Freedom

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Egyptian Government in relation to the protection of Eman Muhammad el-Sayed. [157261]

Dr. Howells: Eman Muhammed el-Sayed is a 26-year-old Egyptian woman, who converted from Islam to Christianity. We understand that she was arrested by the Egyptian police in July 2007 but released shortly afterwards.

We are aware of the case, but have seen nothing to suggest that Eman is currently in danger and are therefore not planning any representations at this stage.

EU Countries: Overseas Workers

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent estimate is of the number of UK citizens working in each of the other EU countries. [153311]

Mr. Jim Murphy [holding answer 8 October 2007]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not hold this information centrally. The hon. Member may wish to refer to “Brits Abroad”, an independent report from the Institute for Public Policy Research, sponsored by the FCO, which considers the question of British emigration in the context of global migration trends. A copy of this report will be sent to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

EU Reform: Treaties

Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legal advice the Government has requested regarding the inter-governmental conference mandate. [154591]

Mr. Jim Murphy: The Government received legal advice on all aspects of the mandate for an EU Reform Treaty. As I made clear in my evidence session with the House of Lords Select Committee on 12 July, the Government do not disclose their legal advice, as has been the case with previous Governments for all previous inter-governmental conference processes.

Mr. Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent the Government’s decision on whether a referendum should be held on the Constitutional Treaty, or whether that Treaty should be rejected, is dependent upon the Government’s judgment that the Treaty incorporates the red lines requested by the Government. [158018]

Mr. Jim Murphy: The draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe is now defunct. The Inter-Governmental Conference Mandate records the agreement of all 27 member states that


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The new Reform Treaty is significantly different to the old Constitution. And we have secured extra safeguards on each of the UK’s red lines set out by the Government ahead of the June European Council.

Following my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary’s oral evidence session with the Foreign Affairs Committee on 10 October, he agreed to write to the Committee and place in the Library of the House a document setting out how the Government’s red lines are reflected in the latest draft of the Reform Treaty.

Mr. Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his response of 9 October 2007, Official Report, column 151, on the Constitutional Treaty, to the Supplementary Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Hollobone) if he will clarify which legal draft he referred to; what the status is of the Opinion of the European Commission (COM(207) 412 final) in that regard; which parts of the draft to which he referred differ from the draft document on which the European Scrutiny Committee has already reported; what the evidential basis is for his statement that the new draft makes clear the direction in which Europe is moving and respects the red lines which the Government has requested; and to what extent that evidential basis is derived from the changes incorporated into the new document. [158022]

Mr. Jim Murphy: The legal draft that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary referred to on 9 October during Foreign and Commonwealth Office oral questions was the draft Reform Treaty in English, including Protocols, Declarations and Preamble (references CIG 1/1/07 REV, 1 CIG 2/1/07 REV 1, CIG 3/1/07 REV 1, CIG 4/1/07 REV 1). These were sent to the Clerks of the Foreign Affairs Committee, European Scrutiny Committee, Lords EU Select Committee and placed in the Libraries of both Houses on Friday 5 October.

The European Scrutiny Committee has reported on the Inter-Governmental Conference. The Government will provide a full response to all points raised in the Committee’s report.

Following my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary’s oral evidence session with the Foreign Affairs Committee on 10 October, he agreed to write to the Committee and place in the Library of the House a document setting out how the Government’s red lines are reflected in the latest draft of the Reform Treaty.

Iraq: Peace Keeping Operations

Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the number of Turkish troops deployed on the border with Iraq. [149627]

David Miliband: We have no confirmed reports of the exact number of Turkish troops deployed along the Turkish border with northern Iraq. We are aware of counter-terrorist operations by the Turkish security forces close to Turkey’s border with northern Iraq. A
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series of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) attacks have targeted military and civilian targets in Turkey recently, causing a significant number of fatalities. We utterly condemn the attacks carried out by the PKK, as we do all acts of terrorism. The PKK, its aliases and its subgroups have been proscribed in the UK and listed as terrorist organisations in the EU.

Iraq: Resettlement

Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 9 October 2007, Official Report, columns 27-28W, on Iraq: assistance to locally employed staff, whether the scheme will apply to (a) non-Iraqi nationals who work, or have worked, for UK armed forces and civilian missions in Iraq since 2003 and (b) staff who work, or have worked, for UK armed forces and civilian missions in Iraq who have been injured as a result of, or in the course of their service regardless of whether they meet the other criteria. [157540]

Dr. Howells: I respect and value the brave and selfless service of all our staff, including those from third countries. But their circumstances are qualitatively different from those of our Iraqi local staff. We have no plans to extend the assistance scheme to those not covered by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's written ministerial statement on 9 October 2007, Official Report, columns 27-28WS.

Official Hospitality: Lancaster House

Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total cost of (a) hospitality and (b) entertainment at Lancaster House was in each of the last 10 years. [156613]

Mr. Jim Murphy: Government Hospitality (GH), part of Protocol Directorate in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, manages all official hospitality or entertainment offered by Government Ministers at Lancaster House. GH has a remit to work for all Government Departments, and organises events in government houses, official residences and outside venues. GH organises on average 60-65 per cent. of its events each year at Lancaster House. GH does not maintain separate records of expenditure per venue. In each of the last 10 years GH's overall expenditure has been as follows:

Amount (£)

1997-98

342,131

1998-99

407,399

1999-2000

406,486

2000-01

489,994

2001-02

552,924

2002-03

623,892

2003-04

705,384

2004-05

869,418

2005-06

809,529

2006-07

592,592


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Palestinians: Politics and Government

Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek assurances from the Hamas leadership in Gaza that there will be no restrictions on the activity of Christian groups. [156804]

Dr. Howells: We remain concerned about the safety of Gaza's Christian community. We call upon Hamas to uphold their commitment to preserve the status of that community. But we have no contact with Hamas at present, due to their failure to respect the Quartet's three principles: non-violence, recognition of Israel and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap.

We condemn the recent killing of Rami Ayyad, the manager of a Christian bookshop in Gaza. Our thoughts are with Mr Ayyad's family.

Poland: Homosexuality

Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the Polish government's stance towards homosexuality, with particular reference to the status of gay teachers and professors in the Polish education system and the proposed education bill; what representations he has made to his Polish counterparts on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [154183]

David Miliband: The Polish Education Ministry's proposed plans to introduce a law banning the promotion of homosexuality in schools were never put to the Polish parliament. The proposal was heavily criticised in the liberal media and by gay rights groups in Poland.

Quebec: Anniversaries

Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans for the UK (a) to take part in and (b) be represented at next year's 400 year celebrations in Quebec; and if he will make a statement. [157436]

Dr. Howells: Officials are in contact with the Governments of Canada and Quebec about the 400(th) anniversary celebrations. UK participation/involvement is under discussion.

Uganda: Politics and Government

Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of reports that Ugandan Government ministers and members of parliament recently (a) wore military uniforms and (b) carried out military drills during their annual retreat at the Kyankwanzi ideological training school; and if he will make a statement. [153787]

David Miliband: We are aware of the above mentioned reports but cannot confirm their accuracy. We know that the Kyankwanzi National Leadership Institute remains in use and is responsible for preparing senior government officials.

Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the Ugandan government's treatment of
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opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye and the extent of its surveillance of Dr. Besigye; and if he will make a statement; [153788]

(2) what representations he has made to the Ugandan authorities on the trial for treason of the opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye; what his policy is on whether this trial will affect relations with the Ugandan government at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in November; and if he will make a statement. [153789]

David Miliband: We continue to monitor closely the People's Redemption Army trial, in which Dr. Besigye is a defendant, and are pushing for a swift and fair conclusion of the legal process. We regularly raise this issue with senior members of the Ugandan government, through the local Heads of Mission Partners for Democracy and Good Governance Group in Kampala. In the course of our regular dialogue with the government of Uganda, we continue to press them, including at senior political level, on the need to engage with the opposition and develop further multi-party democracy.

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November will be a chance for the Ugandan government to demonstrate the progress they are making on good governance to a watching world. We continue to urge the Ugandan government to make the best use of this opportunity.

Communities and Local Government

Alarm Notification Orders

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have instituted alarm notification orders. [158017]


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Jonathan Shaw: I have been asked to reply.

DEFRA does not keep records of which local authorities (LAs) have instituted alarm notification areas. It is up to the LA to decide if it will designate an area as an alarm notification order. It is not compulsory to inform DEFRA.

Council Housing: Home Information Packs

Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will require all social housing to have energy performance certificates; and if she will make a statement. [157438]

Yvette Cooper: The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive requires member states to introduce Energy Performance Certificates on construction, sale or rent of all buildings, including social housing by January 2009. The Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2007 (SI 991) implement these requirements in England and Wales.


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