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5 Dec 2007 : Column 1303W—continued
Languages
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of his staff are receiving language training under the new outsourcing arrangement after the closure of his Department’s Diplomatic Service Language Centre on 2 October, broken down by language taught. [170322]
David Miliband: The new outsourcing arrangement came into effect on 6 November. Since then 11 Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff have been trained under the new arrangements. The details are provided as follows:
| Language | Number of staff |
Morocco: Entry Clearances
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the target processing time is for non-straightforward visa applications for Moroccan nationals; and what the average processing time was for such applications in the last 12 months. [169576]
Meg Munn: Non-settlement visa applications are categorised as straightforward or non-straightforward. The UKvisas public service agreement (PSA) target is 90 per cent. of non-settlement applications requiring further inquiries (i.e. non-straightforward applications) to be processed within 15 working days.
The average processing time of these applications for Moroccan nationals in the last 12 months for which figures are available (October 2006 to October 2007) was eight working days.
Settlement visas are not categorised as straightforward or non-straightforward. The PSA target for these applications is assessment or interview within 12 weeks.
Russia: Elections
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British election monitors will be in Russia to monitor the forthcoming Parliamentary elections representing (a) the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and (b) the Council of Europe; and if he will make a statement. [170447]
Mr. Jim Murphy [holding answer 3 December 2007]: There were no election monitors from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s (OSCE) specialist election monitoring agency, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, present during the parliamentary elections. Members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly did observe the election, but no British parliamentarians were among them. 51 members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, including three British parliamentarians, also observed the election.
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the treatment of the opposition parties in Russia in the run up to the Russian Parliamentary elections. [170450]
Mr. Jim Murphy [holding answer 3 December 2007]: In line with the EU presidency’s statement on 27 November, which expressed concern at Russia’s heavy-handed action towards those taking part in rallies against the Russian Government, the Government consider that the right to peaceful protest and adherence to the rule of law are two vitally important components of any democratic process. We hope that all parties concerned will continue to bear these principles in mind in the run-up to the presidential elections.
Russia: Fascism
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the prevalence of the neo-Nazi movement in Russia. [169248]
Mr. Jim Murphy: Racism and xenophobia are of growing concern in Russia. Neo-Nazi banners were displayed during the recent nationalist marches on the Day of National Unity. According to the Moscow Human Rights Bureau, more than 170 xenophobia-related attacks and conflicts were registered in the Russian Federation in the first nine months of 2007, resulting in the deaths of 51 people.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) supports projects worth more than £120,000, designed to address religious and ethnic discrimination in Russia, including strengthening the capacities of state officials, law enforcement officers, human rights non-governmental organisations, ethnic communities, and mass media to combat xenophobia, extremism and ethnic conflicts.
The most recent FCO annual report on human rights covers our concerns on racism and xenophobia in Russia in detail. We discussed ethnic tension and racism with the Russian Government during the most recent UK-Russia bilateral human rights consultations.
Seychelles: Capital Punishment
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Seychelles Government on the recent United Nations General Assembly resolution vote on the death penalty moratorium. [170861]
Meg Munn: In November 2007 we, through our high commission in Victoria, lobbied the Seychelles Government to support the draft resolution and act as a co-sponsor. The resolution was subsequently adopted by the UN General Assembly Third Committee on 15 November. Ultimately, the Seychelles did not act as co-sponsor, or indeed vote, and our high commissioner will take this up with the Seychelles Government.
Somalia: Politics and Government
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Somalia, with particular regard to the length of time Ethiopian forces are expected to remain there. [170101]
Meg Munn: The appointment of new Prime Minister, Nur Hassan Hussein on 24 November has given new hope and a renewed opportunity for the Somali Government to pursue political reconciliation and a peaceful future for their country by implementing the conclusions of the National Reconciliation Congress and delivering a new constitution and elections, as part of the transitional process.
The UK will work with the Somali President and Prime Minister, the UN special representative of the Secretary-General, the International Contact Group, the European Union and the UN Security Council to help the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia to successfully deliver the transitional period.
The presence of Ethiopian troops in Somalia continues due to ongoing insurgency against the Government. Ethiopia has said that it wants to withdraw from Somalia as soon as it is possible to do so without leaving a security vacuum. The UK believes that progress on political reconciliation will improve the security situation and enable Ethiopian withdrawal to take place.
Sudan: Aviation
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of (a) the feasibility of establishing and (b) the means of enforcing a no-fly zone over Darfur, Sudan; what his policy is on the matter; and if he will make a statement. [169106]
Meg Munn: We are working with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), the African Union, the Government of Sudan and international partners for the prompt deployment of an effective UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) to improve stability and security in the region. This has been the priority since UN Security Council Resolution 1769 was passed on 31 July mandating the UNAMID force.
Among other activities, we hope that UNAMID will improve monitoring of military activity in Darfur. Before considering any additional measures, we would need to assess the logistical challenges of implementation and their impact on humanitarian efforts.
We welcome the recent cessation of hostilities that the Government of Sudan announced at the start of peace talks on 27 October. We are pressing all parties
to sign up to a cessation of hostilities with immediate effect and to engage on the peace process.
Sudan: Law
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the application of Sharia law to (a) Christians and (b) foreigners in Sudan. [170102]
Meg Munn: The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of January 2005 stipulates that Sharia law does not apply in Southern Sudan. Under the terms of the CPA, a commission has been set up to protect the rights of non-Muslims in the national capital, Khartoum, where there is a concentration of migrants from Southern Sudan.
The UK is monitoring this issue closely because of reports that non-Muslims have been subject to arrest for not complying with Sharia law. The right to religious freedom is enshrined in the Interim National Constitution of Sudan, which came into force in 2005.
Sudan: Peace Negotiations
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to encourage rebel groups to implement a ceasefire and engage in the negotiation of a political settlement to the conflict in Darfur, Sudan. [169109]
Meg Munn: We have spoken to those rebels who attended the start of Darfur peace talks in Libya on 27 October and the representatives of the key rebel movements based in the UK making clear the importance we attach to rebel unification and participation in the political process. The UK has committed £1 million to support the African Union (AU) and UN Joint Mediation Support Team, which is currently focused on encouraging the rebel movements to unify further and agree on common platforms.
The UK welcomed the government of Sudan's announcement of a cessation of hostilities at the start of the talks, which must be extended now to rebels and honoured by all parties to the conflict. The UK is supporting the AU/UN to ensure that any new cessation of hostilities agreement can be effectively monitored on the ground. Only a political process can provide a sustainable solution to the Darfur conflict.
Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking in co-operation with their international partners to ensure that all rebel group leaders in Darfur attend the next set of peace progress negotiations. [169902]
Meg Munn:
The UK is supporting the African Union and UN-led Darfur political process. This mediation effort is currently focused on encouraging the rebel movements to unify further and agree on common platforms ahead of negotiations. Along with our international partners, including the US and France, we have pressed the rebel movements to engage
fully in the political process and agree to a cessation of hostilities. We have made clear publicly and directly to the rebel movements that there will be consequences for any party that seeks to obstruct the political process.
Vietnam: Oppression
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Vietnamese Government on the arrest of more than 40 democracy activists, opposition party members and union leaders in Vietnam during the last 15 months. [170859]
Meg Munn: We are concerned at the arrest and sentencing of several peaceful human rights defenders in Vietnam who have been charged with ‘conducting propaganda’ against the state. We, along with our EU partners, have made numerous representations to the Vietnamese authorities on this issue.
On 15 May, the EU issued a statement expressing its concern about the current situation and calling on the Vietnamese Government to release all non-violent political activists who have simply exercised their rights to freedom of expression and association.
I raised our concerns on human rights with the Vietnamese Foreign Minister at the Association of South East Asian Nations summit in Singapore on 23 November and with the Deputy Foreign Minister during his visit to London on 29 November. Additionally, I raised the issue with the Vietnamese ambassador on 9 October and with the chargé d’affaires on 25 July. My right hon. Friend the then Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs (Mr. McCartney) raised our concerns with the Vietnamese Vice-Minister Le Cung Phung during the EU/Association of South East Asian Nations Ministerial meeting in Nuremburg on 14-15 March. He also raised the issue with the Vietnamese ambassador on 10 May.
We will continue to raise the question of human rights defenders, along with other human rights issues, with the Vietnamese Government, including during the EU’s human rights dialogue with the Vietnamese Government, which will next take place on 19 December.
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations his Department has made to the Vietnamese Government on the imprisonment of human rights lawyers Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan. [170860]
Meg Munn: We, along with our EU partners, have made numerous representations to the Vietnamese Government on the arrest and sentencing of lawyers Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan.
The EU conducted a démarche on the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 9 March 2007, following the arrest of Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan. International representatives, including the UK, attended their trial as observers on 11 May and their appeal trial on 27 November. On 15 May, the EU issued a statement expressing its concern and calling on the Vietnamese Government to release all non-violent political activists, including Nguyen Van
Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan, who have exercised their rights to freedom of expression and association. This issue was also raised during the six-monthly EU/Vietnam human rights dialogue on 28 June.
I raised our concerns on human rights with the Vietnamese Foreign Minister at the Association of South East Asian Nations summit in Singapore on 23 November and with the Deputy Foreign Minister during his visit to London on 29 November. Additionally, I raised the issue with the Vietnamese ambassador on 9 October and with the chargé d’affaires on 25 July.
We will continue to raise the question of human rights defenders, along with other human rights issues, with the Vietnamese Government, including during the EU’s human rights dialogue with the Vietnamese Government, which will next take place on 19 December.
Health
Antibiotics: Hospitals
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what benchmarking is used by his Department to establish comparative levels of usage of antibiotics in hospitals across the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [170262]
Dawn Primarolo: The Department does not hold data centrally to benchmark and compare antibiotic usage in national health service hospitals. However, the expert Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections is investigating the availability and utility of hospital prescribing data for benchmarking and other purposes.
Asthma: Research
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Government has allocated to research into asthma since 1997. [170095]
Dawn Primarolo: 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. During this time, the Department has also funded research to support policy and to provide the evidence needed to underpin quality improvement and service development in the NHS. Total reported expenditure on asthma by research active NHS organisations and similar expenditure by the Department's national research programmes, is shown in the following table.
| £ million | ||
| Respiratory disease, including asthma, 2 | Asthma | |
| n/a = Not available | ||
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