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14 Nov 2007 : Column 313W—continued
Admiralty House: Official Residences
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how much was spent in the ministerial flats in Admiralty House on (a) wine and entertaining, (b) food, (c) flowers and plants and (d) telephone bills in the last period for which figures are available; [162004]
(2) how much his Department has paid to the Cabinet Office for Lord Malloch-Brown's residence in Admiralty House (a) in total and (b) to cover the cost of (i) rent, (ii) security, (iii) utilities, (iv) facilities management and (v) general maintenance. [162138]
Meg Munn: Details of payments made in 2007-08 will be available when the Department's resource accounts are fully audited and laid before Parliament.
Burma: Sanctions
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which relevant bodies are charged with elaborating further restrictive measures against Burma, including a ban on new investments, as set out in the 15 October statement by EU Foreign Ministers. [163893]
David Miliband [holding answer 14 November 2007]: EU member states will elaborate further restrictive measures against Burma in the relevant council working parties, on the basis of a report by EU heads of missions in Rangoon requested by the presidency.
Cyprus: Currencies
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what currency will circulate in the Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus when Cyprus joins the euro in July 2008; and if he will make a statement. [163113]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I have been asked to reply.
In appendix O to the Treaty establishing the Republic of Cyprus the UK Government agreed that “the currency of the Republic will be legal tender in the Sovereign Base Areas”. Since 1960 the Sovereign Base Areas, including a large number of Cypriot citizens as well as the British military personnel who reside there, have used the Cyprus pound. The Republic of Cyprus will replace the Cyprus pound with the euro from 1 January
2008. At the same time the Sovereign Base Areas will also adopt the euro as legal tender. The use of a currency in the Sovereign Base Areas other than that circulating in the Republic of Cyprus would be impractical, and would run counter to our 1960 commitments.
Departmental NDPBs
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) budget and (b) remit is of each non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department; who the chairman is of each; and to what salary, including bonuses and expenses, each chairman is entitled. [163604]
Meg Munn: The following are the budgets and remit of each of the non-departmental public bodies (NDPB) sponsored by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO); who the chairman is of each; and to what salary, including bonuses and expenses, each chairman is entitled.
The Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission
The Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission is the NDPB responsible for administering the Marshall Scholarship Scheme. The FCO funds this scheme almost entirely and is contributing £2.2 million this financial year.
Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the UK. Scholars are selected each year to study either at graduate or occasionally undergraduate level at an UK institution in any field of study. Each scholarship is held for two years. As future leaders, with a lasting understanding of British society, Marshall Scholars strengthen the enduring relationship between the British and American peoples, their Governments and their institutions. The current chairman is Dr. Frances Dow. The role of chairman is unpaid, but she is entitled to claim travel expenses only.
The Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine (GHACPW)
The Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine (GHACPW) has no budget and its operating costs are met by Government Hospitality, Protocol Directorate. The remit of the Committee, as defined in its Terms of Reference, is
“to advise the Minister responsible for Government Hospitality on the maintenance of an appropriate standard of wine for use at Government functions. This entails advice, after tasting, on the purchase of wine, the exchange of wine if necessary, and the stocking of the Government Hospitality Cellar at Lancaster House.”
The GHACPW chairman is Sir David Wright GCMG LVO. The role of chairman is unpaid, but he is entitled to claim travel expenses to attend each of the four meetings per year.
The FCO will provide grant in aid of £239.5 million to the BBCWS in financial year 2007-08. BBCWS’ remit is to provide independent news and information to audiences around the world. Sir Michael Lyon is chairman of the BBC Trust. His salary, which is not funded by the FCO, is £140,000 per annum. Sir Michael was appointed on 1 May 2007 so no expenses were incurred last financial year. Out-of-pocket expenses necessarily incurred while on BBCWS business are reimbursed. Bonuses are not paid.
Wilton Park Advisory Council (WPAC)
WPAC has no budget. WPAC’s main responsibilities are to ensure that Wilton Park activities meet the highest academic standards and that it maintains its reputation as a centre of excellence. It also gives advice concerning the selection of conference themes, speakers and participants. The current chairman of WPAC is Dr. Farhan Nizami (from the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies). The role of chairman is unpaid, but he is entitled to claim travel expenses for attendance at the bi-annual meetings.
In 2007-08 the British Council’s grant in aid budget from the FCO was £192,803,000. The purpose of the British Council is to build mutually beneficial relationships between people in the UK and other countries and to increase appreciation of the UK’s creative ideas and achievements. The chairman of the British Council is my noble Friend the right hon. Lord Kinnock. The role of chairman is unpaid, but he is entitled to claim out-of-pocket expenses necessarily incurred while on British Council business.
The Great Britain China Centre (GBCC)
The Great Britain China Centre (GBCC) receives a grant in aid of £300,000 from the FCO, which is drawn down quarterly. The remit of the GBCC is to promote closer economic, professional, cultural, and academic relations between Britain and China; and to encourage mutual knowledge and understanding. The chairman of the GBCC is Mr. Peter Batey, OBE. The role of chairman is unpaid, but he is entitled to claim travel expenses only.
The Foreign Compensation Commission (FCC)
The Foreign Compensation Commission (FCC) is an independent tribunal formed by an Act of Parliament in the 1960s. The FCC has a budget of £52,000 per annum. However, last year this budget was underspent by £12,000, and this year it is expected to be underspent by £15,000. In both cases the money has been returned to central FCO funds before the mid point of the year. The FCC remit is to administer and pay out compensation to UK citizens who have had property expropriated by a foreign state. It takes action following an FCO-negotiated settlement with an expropriating state. In such instances, the Government normally agrees a lump sum settlement with the relevant state. It is the responsibility of the FCC to fairly distribute this lump sum between the various UK claimants, who could number in the thousands. The chairman of the FCC is Dr. John Barker. Dr. Barker works part time a few days a month. His fees are £469 per day. His total fees for the year are budgeted at £25,000.
The Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD)
The Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) is a NDPB set up by the FCO in 1992. The WFD is funded primarily by an annual grant-in-aid from the FCO (£4.1 million for financial year 2006-07); it seeks further financial support from the private sector and other funding organisations. Its aim is to help establish and strengthen pluralist democratic institutions, particularly political parties, in countries where they are absent, of recent foundation, or in need of further encouragement and development. My hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, West (Mr. Bailey) has been chairman
of the WFD since August 2005. The role of chairman is unpaid, but he is entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses incurred.
The Diplomatic Service Appeal Board (DSAB)
The Diplomatic Service Appeal Board (DSAB) is an advisory NDPB. The DSAB has no operating budget. The DSAB’s main purpose is to advise my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary whether premature retirement or termination of an appointment on grounds of failed probation, or dismissal on any grounds is fair. The board’s function is to satisfy itself that management has acted responsibly and fairly. The chair is Philippa Drew. The role of chairman is unpaid. All members get a daily fee of £360, plus travel and subsistence costs, for work undertaken on behalf of the board. The board meets infrequently, at most once or twice a year.
The British Association for Central and Eastern Europe (BACEE)
The British Association for Central and Eastern Europe (BACEE). The budget from the FCO is £100,000 for this financial year, however this will be the last year the BACEE will receive Government funding. BACEE exists to promote a closer understanding between the British people and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and to support them in developing democratic systems and civil society. Their main activity is organising seminars and study visits. These have covered parliamentary elections, the judicial system, the media, anti-corruption, banking, local government, and penal reform. The chairman is my noble Friend the right hon. Lord Radice. The role of chairman is unpaid, but he is entitled to claim travel expenses only, this has never been done.
Departmental Sick Leave
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff in his Department (a) were disciplined and (b) had their employment terminated as a result of a poor sickness record in each of the last five years. [163702]
Meg Munn: The figures relating to numbers of staff disciplined and dismissed specifically as a result of a poor sick record in the last five years are available only at disproportionate cost.
Diego Garcia: Ilois
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates UK Government (a) officials and (b) Ministers held discussions with the US Administration on new arrangements for Chagos Islanders to work on two-year contracts on Diego Garcia; and when these new arrangements came into effect. [164814]
Meg Munn: There are no new arrangements. Chagossians have been able to apply for jobs on the US facility on Diego Garcia—some have worked there over the past decades, three Chagossians were employed there last year.
Officials annually remind the government of the United States of its obligation under the 1966 Exchange of Notes that it and its contractors agreed to make use of workers from Mauritius and Seychelles to the maximum extent practicable, consistent with United States policies,
requirements and schedules. This was last reviewed during the 2007 US/UK political military talks held in Washington on 12 and 13 September. Ministers have not raised this issue recently with the US administration.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Chagos Island contract community members are eligible to apply for work on Diego Garcia; and what regulations will apply to such workers. [164816]
Meg Munn: Any Chagossian can apply for work on Diego Garcia advertised by the US contractor, DG21.
Under our 1966 Exchange of Notes with the government of the United States, the United States government and contractors agreed to make use of workers from Mauritius to the maximum extent practicable, consistent with United States policies, requirements and schedules.
In November 2007, DG21's programme director visited Mauritius and had meetings with Chagossian leaders in which he outlined further job opportunities for Chagossians on Diego Garcia. He made clear that recruitment was on merit.
EU Treaties: Reform
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on EU plans to run publicity and PR campaigns in the UK explaining the contents of the Treaty of Lisbon; and what the Government’s position is on such plans. [161923]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The European Commission has no plans to run publicity and public relations campaigns in the UK explaining the contents of the treaty of Lisbon.
European General Affairs and External Relations Council: Voting
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many votes took place at the European General Affairs and External Relations Council in each of the last 12 months; how many times the British Government (a) applied a veto, (b) voted negatively and (c) abstained in such votes in each month; and if he will make a statement. [162868]
David Miliband: The latest twelve month period for which definitive figures are available from the Council Secretariat runs to May 2007. During that period the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council voted to adopt 86 acts. The breakdown by month is as follows.
June—10
July/August—7
September—7
October—9
November—7
December—9
January—7
February—9
March—6
April—10
May—5
The UK voted against on only one occasion (a Council Regulation imposing an anti-dumping duty on imports of ironing boards originating in the People’s Republic of China and Ukraine) in April 2007. The UK did not veto or abstain on any votes.
European Union: Offices
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the projected share of the costs to the UK is of the expansion of EU office space in Brussels. [161925]
Mr. Jim Murphy [holding answer 14 November 2007]: The European Commission is expanding office space in response to the increase in staff required due to the accession of 10 new member states in 2004 and Romania and Bulgaria in 2007.
The EU budget, to which all member states contribute, bears the cost of purchasing and renting EU office buildings. This is one of the main components of the EU's administrative expenditure. The UK's share of financing of the 2007 EU budget, after taking into account of the UK abatement, is 12.5 per cent. a smaller share than Germany, France or Italy.
The European Commission has reformed the tendering process to increase transparency. The process is still ongoing and consequently the total price of expansion of EU office space in Brussels is not yet known. The Government welcome the increased transparency and will continue to expect and encourage all EU institutions to provide value for money.
Iran: Sanctions
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support the request of the French government for stronger sanctions against Iran; and whether any proposed sanction will include the relevant activities of the Total Oil Company. [163638]
Dr. Howells: The Government are fully committed to stronger measures against Iran, to persuade the Iranian government to change its nuclear policy. We are working closely at all levels with the French government, who share our views on the need to increase the pressure on Iran. EU Foreign Ministers agreed at the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) on 15 October that the EU would consider what further measures it should take, and we will be pressing for a decision to implement appropriate further measures at the December GAERC, following discussion in the relevant EU working groups. The Government, together with our E3+3 partners (China, France, Germany, Russia and the US), are committed to putting a new sanctions resolution to a vote at the UN unless reports this month from Dr. Solana and Dr. El Baradei both show a positive outcome. Sanctions adopted at the UN or the EU will apply to the companies of all member states.
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