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15 Nov 2007 : Column 390W—continued
We work closely with the FCO disabled persons’ representatives and when local circumstances change we conduct further assessments.
EU-African Union Summit
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what decisions have been made about the level at which the UK will be represented at the EU-African Union summit; and if he will make a statement. [163865]
David Miliband: No final decision has been made on the level of UK attendance at the EU-Africa summit. But my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has been clear that neither he nor any senior UK Government Minister will attend the summit if President Mugabe is present.
Iraq: Detainees
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) Iraqis and (b) non-Iraqis remain in British custody in Iraq; what arrangements have been made for the handover of these detainees to the Iraqi authorities; and if he will make a statement. [163412]
David Miliband: The UK currently holds 36 detainees at the divisional internment facility at Basra air station, all of whom are Iraqi nationals.
The UK detains individuals in Iraq for imperative reasons of security under the authority of UN Security Council Resolution 1723 (2006). It is a power we use sparingly and we take our responsibilities to our detainees seriously. Where possible, we seek to release individuals or transfer their cases to the Iraqi justice system. The UK has obtained assurances from the government of Iraq to ensure that anyone transferred from UK to Iraqi custody will be treated in accordance with basic international human rights principles.
Kosovo: Politics and Government
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the progress being made in negotiations on the final status of Kosovo. [163862]
David Miliband: The UK fully supports the work of the EU-Russia-US Troika aimed at reaching agreement between Belgrade and Pristina on Kosovo’s future status. The process will be concluded by the Contact Group reporting to the UN Secretary-General by 10 December.
So far there have been four rounds of face-to-face talks between the parties. The last round took place in Vienna on 5 November. A further round is scheduled to take place on 20 November.
We share the UN Secretary-General’s view that the status quo in Kosovo is unsustainable. We see an early resolution of Kosovo's status as crucial to the stability and security of the Balkans and Europe as a whole.
Law Making
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made on implementing the European Inter-institutional Agreement on better law making 2003, with particular reference to measure 34 on the creation and publication of transposition tables; whether a transposition co-ordinator has been appointed; and if he will make a statement. [163411]
Mr. Thomas: I have been asked to reply.
Significant progress has been made embedding use of impact assessment in the policy-making process and in simplifying existing EU legislation. In particular, the European Council in March 2007 endorsed a Commission proposal to set a target to reduce administrative burdens arising from EU law by 25 per cent. by 2012. As far as paragraph 34 is concerned, a transposition coordinator has been appointed in the Cabinet Office European Secretariat. New guidance for officials on transposition was published in September; this explains how officials can use the transposition notes they provide to Parliament as transposition tables for the European Commission. All transposition notes are published at the Office of Public Sector Information website,
Middle East: Peace Negotiations
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial and logistical resources the European Union is providing to the Quartet's special envoy Mr. Blair; what (a) salary, (b) expenses provision and (c) support staff will be available to him; what share of the costs the United Kingdom is contributing; and if he will make a statement. [162876]
David Miliband: Mr. Blair is not paid a salary in his role as Quartet Representative. The UK has provided £400,000 to a United Nations Development Programme Trust Fund which provides operational and technical support to Mr. Blair's office in Jerusalem. The UK has also seconded four staff to his team. Other international donors are also supporting his work.
We strongly support the work of Mr. Blair. He is well placed to drive forward Palestinian capacity building, which is a clear priority.
Pakistan: Detainees
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to urge the Pakistani authorities to release all non-violent democracy and human rights activists recently arrested, including the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion and Belief, Ms Asma Jahangir, and the Director of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Mr. I. A. Rehman. [163937]
Dr. Howells:
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has made clear in a statement to the House on 7 November 2007, Official Report, columns 130-32, that we condemn the mass detentions of politicians,
lawyers and human rights activists, and call for their immediate release. It is vital that the Government of Pakistan act quickly to restore the constitution, hold free and fair elections on schedule, honour the president’s commitment to step down as army chief and lift restrictions on the media.
Our high commission in Islamabad has raised our concern at the highest levels for the welfare and safety of Asma Jahangir, head of the Pakistan Human Rights Commission and UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, I. A. Rehman and all those in detention. Close attention is being paid to their treatment and preparations are under way both bilaterally, and through the EU, to visit or contact as many as possible.
In parallel, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, met Hina Jilani (Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders) on 8 November to discuss the current situation in Pakistan. They expressed concern about the hundreds of political detainees in Pakistan, including Hina Jilani’s sister, Asma Jahangir.
Pakistan: Politics and Government
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to raise the current political and security situation in Pakistan at the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Uganda. [164352]
Dr. Howells: The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) met in London on 12 November to discuss the situation in Pakistan, and issued a Statement. The Statement is available on the Commonwealth’s website at:
My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, represented the UK at the meeting.
The situation will be discussed further when CMAG meets on 22 November in Kampala, immediately prior to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his estimate is of the number of Pakistani citizens who have been detained by the authorities in Pakistan under the state of emergency. [164353]
Dr. Howells: It is not possible to put a figure on the number of people detained following the declaration of the state of emergency. There are various estimates ranging from a few hundred to several thousand. The situation is very fluid. Some of the detainees have been released.
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear in a statement to the House on 7 November 2007, Official Report, columns 130-132 that we condemn the mass detentions of politicians, lawyers and human rights activists, and call for their immediate release. It is vital that the Government of Pakistan act quickly to restore the constitution, hold free and fair elections on schedule, honour the President’s commitment to step down as army chief and lift restrictions on the media.
Our high commission in Islamabad has raised its concern for the welfare and safety of all those in detention at the highest levels. Close attention is being paid to their treatment and preparations are under way to visit or contact as many as possible.
Parvaiz Aslam Chaudhry
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make representations to the Palestinian authority in the case of Parvaiz Aslam Chaudhry recently arrested in Pakistan. [163260]
Dr. Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear in a statement to the House on 7 November 2007, Official Report, columns 130-32, that we condemn the mass detentions of politicians, lawyers and human rights activists, and call for their immediate release. It is vital that the Government of Pakistan act quickly to restore the constitution, hold free and fair elections on schedule, honour the President’s commitment to step down as army chief and lift restrictions on the media.
Our high commission in Islamabad has raised its concern at the highest levels for the welfare and safety of Parvaiz Aslam Chaudhry and all those in detention. Close attention is being paid to their treatment and preparations are under way, both bilaterally and through the EU, to visit or contact as many as possible
Wael al-Haj Ibrahim
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made or plans to make to the Government of Sudan on the recent expulsion of the head of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs in South Darfur, Mr. Wael al-Haj Ibrahim; and if he will make a statement. [164349]
Meg Munn: The UK shares international concerns at the expulsion of the Head of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs in South Darfur on 7 November and fully supports UN efforts to resolve the case. The UN Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Humanitarian Co-ordinator told the Government of Sudan on 10 November that the expulsion contravened the letter and spirit of the Joint Communiqué of 28 March 2007, which undertakes to remove bureaucratic impediments to humanitarian agencies.
The UK and UN are pressing the Government of Sudan to comply with the commitments made to the international community, including through the High Level Committee, which monitors the implementation of the Joint Communiqué. The UK is due to assume an observer seat on the Committee.
Zimbabwe
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to raise issues relating to Zimbabwe at the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Uganda; and if he will make a statement. [164345]
Meg Munn: As Zimbabwe is no longer a member of the Commonwealth, it will not be on the formal agenda of the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. It is likely however to be discussed in the margins of the meeting.
Duchy of Lancaster
Departmental Consultants
Mr. Walker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what contracts his Department has with external consultants; what the total value, including all VAT and disbursements, of these contracts are for the current financial year; how long each contract lasts; and what the forecast total value is of each contract. [163804]
Edward Miliband: The information requested for the Cabinet Office is not readily available and may not be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the sponsoring firm is of each external consultant working in his Department. [164774]
Edward Miliband: The information requested for the Cabinet Office is not readily available and may not be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.
Departmental NDPBs
Mrs. May: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 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. [163609]
Edward Miliband: The information requested is currently being collated to be published as part of the 2007 Public Appointments Plan in due course. The latest published information is available in the directory “Public Bodies 2006”
Copies are available in the Libraries of the House.
European Union
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what items of EU branded material were purchased by his Department in the last 12 months; and at what cost. [164540]
Edward Miliband: The information requested for the Cabinet Office is not readily available and may not be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.
Strategy Unit
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what projects are being undertaken by the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit. [164545]
Edward Miliband: The Strategy Unit’s work programme falls into two broad parts:
(a) standing teams covering core policy areas including education; health; home affairs; and public service improvement.
(b) a small number of time-limited projects covering cross-cutting issues such as childhood and food policy.
Treasury
Bank Melli
Mr. Hague: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps will have to be taken by the UK in response to the 25 October designation of Bank Melli and its branches and subsidiaries by the United States in relation to proliferation activities and support for terrorism. [163897]
Kitty Ussher: The United States sanctions of 25 October against Iranian individuals and entities are domestic measures that are not part of UK law.
The UK takes seriously the risks to the financial system posed by Iran’s lack of a comprehensive anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist finance (AML/CTF) system. At the recent meeting of the financial action task force, the international standard setting body currently chaired by the UK, FATF members issued a public statement to express concerns that Iran represents a significant vulnerability within the international financial system. FATF members are advising their financial institutions to take the risk arising from deficiencies in Iran’s AML/CTF regime into account for enhanced due diligence. The Treasury has issued guidance to this effect to financial institutions in the UK.
Banks: Iran
Mr. Hague: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the implications are for Iranian banks based in the UK of the designation of Iranian entities and individuals for proliferation activities and support for terrorism by the United States on 25 October. [163896]
Kitty Ussher: The United States sanctions of 25 October against Iranian individuals and entities are domestic measures and are not therefore part of UK law.
As the United States Department of the Treasury said in its press statement of 25 October, as a result of the measures all transactions involving any of the designees and any US person will be prohibited and any assets the designees may have under US jurisdiction will be frozen.
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