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22 Jan 2008 : Column 1852W—continued
We are unable at present to confirm how many of these visitors have overstayed. The Home Office does keep records of foreign nationals who have failed to comply with their conditions of stay and have had enforcement action taken against them. However, it is not at present possible to differentiate visitors from those who entered in other temporary categories (e.g. students, work permit holders). The Home Office is currently addressing this problem.
Israel: EU External Trade
Richard Burden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to monitor the post code regulation of goods being imported to the UK by Israel under the EU-Israel Association Agreement; and what
assessment he has made of the effectiveness of monitoring in preventing the products of Israeli settlements in the West Bank being imported using the Agreement’s trade preferences. [178520]
Jane Kennedy: I have been asked to reply.
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs assess applications for relief based on the terms of the international agreements applying to the territories concerned. Claims to duty relief under the provisions of the EU-Israel Association Agreement are disallowed where documentation accompanying the goods indicates that they were produced in the Palestinian Authority.
The monitoring of the post code regulation is effective and resulted in the disallowance of 202 claims to preference since January 2007.
David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to ensure that the EU Trade Association Agreement with Israel is properly implemented in relation to its human rights clauses. [180745]
Dr. Howells: The European Commission, on behalf of member states, is responsible for monitoring implementation of the EU/Israel Association Agreement. Twice a year, all aspects of the EU/Israel relationship are discussed at an Association Council at which Israel and the EU are represented.
Human rights issues in particular are also discussed in the Informal Working Group on Human Rights, established under the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan with Israel.
The UK also raises a range of human rights issues bilaterally with Israel at ambassadorial and ministerial level.
Israel: Oppression
David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli government about the release of imprisoned, democratically elected Palestinian representatives. [180743]
Dr. Howells: We continue to call for the elected members of the Palestinian government detained by Israel to be either released or subject to due legal process. On 30 May 2007, the Quartet also called for the release of the politicians. On 23 July 2007, the EU called for the immediate release of all Palestinian ministers and legislators detained in Israel. Our Embassy in Tel Aviv last raised the issue of the detained Palestinian ministers and legislators with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 5 December 2007.
Middle East: Diplomatic Service
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK diplomatic posts in the Middle East and South Asia will receive additional staff under the diplomatic surge strategy; which will receive additional staff and how many each will receive; and when the new staff are expected to be in post in each case. [179167]
David Miliband: On current plans, the 10 posts listed will receive additional staff. Numbers by post have yet to be decided. The intention is that wherever possible staff will be in their new positions by April 2009.
New Delhi
Islamabad
Dhaka
Kabul
Baghdad
Riyadh
Cairo
Sana’a
Rabat
Dubai
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the proposed 30 per cent. increase in staff in UK diplomatic posts in the Middle East and South Asia includes locally-employed staff; and if he will make a statement. [179169]
David Miliband: The increase refers to numbers of UK based frontline policy staff only. Decisions on local staff manning levels are devolved to individual posts who employ the appropriate number to deliver their objectives.
Nuclear Disarmament
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further steps the Government plan to take to secure nuclear disarmament in accordance with their commitments under Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. [180611]
Dr. Howells: The UK has now met the commitment outlined in the 2006 White Paper on the future of the UK nuclear deterrent to reduce the number of operationally available warheads to fewer than 160. The explosive power of our nuclear arsenal has been reduced by 75 per cent. since the end of the cold war.
My right hon. Friend the Member for Derby, South (Margaret Beckett), then Foreign Secretary, announced in her June 2007 speech to the Carnegie Endowment that the UK would act as a “disarmament laboratory” for the thinking and practical work required to move forward global nuclear disarmament. We are supporting an independent International Institute of Strategic Studies in-depth study to help determine the requirements for the eventual elimination of all nuclear weapons. We have also tasked the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston with some detailed work on key stages in the verification of the reduction and elimination of nuclear weapons.
The UK continues to press for the immediate commencement of negotiations on a fissile material cut-off treaty, the next logical step for multilateral nuclear disarmament, at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Mr. Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the value of his Department’s contracts with PricewaterhouseCoopers relating to private finance initiative projects was in each year since 2000. [180848]
Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has had no contracts with PricewaterhouseCoopers relating to private finance initiative projects since 2000.
Rizana Nafeek
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 23 July 2007, Official Report, column 709W, on Rizana Nafeek, what information he holds on the fate of Ms Nafeek. [179313]
Dr. Howells: Representatives for Rizana Nafeek filed an appeal against her death sentence on 15 July 2007. This is still awaiting a decision by His Majesty King Abdullah.
Our embassy in Riyadh continues to monitor this case. We shall continue to consider when best to take further action, including through the EU.
Spratly Islands
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the protests outside the Chinese embassy in Hanoi and the Chinese consulate in Ho Chi Minh City on the disputed Spratly and Paracel islands. [180658]
Meg Munn: We have noted the demonstrations which recently took place outside the Chinese embassy in Hanoi and the Chinese consulate in Ho Chi Minh City. We encourage all countries laying claim to the Spratly and Paracel islands to resolve this dispute peacefully, and welcome the commitment by all governments involved to finding a mutually acceptable solution through peaceful means and negotiation.
Sudan: Human Rights
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the reasons for the UN Human Rights Council’s decision on 14 December 2007 to let the mandate of the Group of Experts on Darfur expire; and if he will make a statement. [180721]
Meg Munn: The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) renewed and strengthened the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Sudan by consensus on 14 December 2007 by extending it to cover all of Sudan, including Darfur. The Group of Experts for Darfur had been established under a temporary mandate. Its recommendations of 30 March 2007 will now be taken forward by the Special Rapporteur, which is a very positive outcome.
The UK was instrumental in obtaining a strong EU statement on Sudan, which condemned the continued human rights abuses and called on the Government of Sudan to comply with its obligations to the International Criminal Court and the HRC. We take every appropriate opportunity to discuss human rights with the Government of Sudan.
Sudan: Politics and Government
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government is taking with its international partners to ensure that the government of Sudan complies with its obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 1593; and what progress has been made in ensuring such compliance. [180720]
Meg Munn: The UK sponsored UN Security Council Resolution 1593 of March 2005 which referred the human rights situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The UK fully supports the ICC and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs discussed Sudan’s compliance with the ICC with ICC President Kirsch on 8 November 2007.
The UK continues to press the Government of Sudan, at all levels, to comply with the ICC requirements. We have raised Sudanese compliance with the ICC with partners who have influence over the Government of Sudan.
Turkey: Religious Freedom
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Turkish Government on the prosecution of the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Orthodox Church for using the title Ecumenical; and if he will make a statement. [180051]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The issue of religious freedoms in Turkey is regularly raised with the Turkish Government. My right hon. Friend the Member for Ashfield (Mr. Hoon), then Minister for Europe, also met the Ecumenical Patriarch in January last year to discuss the difficulties facing the Orthodox Church in Turkey.
We continue to urge the Turkish authorities to resolve ongoing issues relating to fundamental rights and freedoms facing religious minority groups in Turkey, including the status of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to Turkey on its recognition of the spiritual and religious status of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople; and if he will make a statement. [180052]
Mr. Jim Murphy: We regularly raise issues of freedom of religion in bilateral discussions at all levels. We continue to urge the Turkish authorities to resolve ongoing issues relating to fundamental rights and freedoms facing religious minority groups in Turkey, including the status of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Turkish government on its obligations under the Lausanne Treaty provisions and the UN Declaration on Freedom of Religion or Belief; and if he will make a statement. [180056]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The Turkish government is aware of its obligations under the Lausanne Treaty provisions and the UN Declaration on Freedom of Religion or Belief. We continue to urge Turkey in regular bilateral discussions to take positive steps on issues surrounding freedom of religion and belief, and the European Commission monitors progress towards full and consistent alignment with EU standards.
Turkey: Travel Restrictions
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Turkish Government on its prohibition of the proposed visit of the Archbishop of Cyprus to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul; and if he will make a statement. [180049]
Mr. Jim Murphy: Our high commission in Nicosia is in regular contact with the Archbishop of Cyprus and we are not aware of a proposed visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul. We would urge against prohibitions from being placed on travel for any religious reason.
More generally, we continue to urge Turkey in regular bilateral discussions to take positive steps on issues surrounding freedom of religion and belief, and we monitor their progress towards full and consistent alignment with EU standards.
Uganda: Kenya
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department urged the Government of Uganda not to interfere in the democratic processes of Kenya; and if he will make a statement. [180965]
Meg Munn: The Government are deeply concerned about the post-election crisis in Kenya. We support the African Union initiative to facilitate talks between the political parties and Kofi Annan's mission. We have been in touch with regional, and other African leaders, including the Ugandan Government, to underline our support for this African-led process aimed at restoring peace, stability and prosperity to Kenya.
We are aware that President Museveni, in his capacity as Head of the East African Community, plans to visit Kenya. We understand that this visit would support the visit of the Eminent Persons Panel, led by Kofi Annan, which is due to arrive in Kenya on 22 January to facilitate talks between the parties.
Home Department
Asylum
Mr. Clappison:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many removals through enforcement action in (a) asylum cases and (b)
non-asylum cases took place in each quarter since 1 January 2005. [177473]
Mr. Byrne: Information on removals is published in the Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom Command Papers. Copies of these publications and others relating to immigration to the UK are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those attending a Home Office Unit to make an asylum application had been referred there by the police following arrest and release in each of the last five years. [179818]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 17 January 2008]: The information requested is not collated and any information recorded on individual case files could be extracted only at disproportionate cost.
Christmas
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department and its agencies have spent on Christmas (a) cards, (b) parties and (c) decorations in each of the last five years. [171440]
Mr. Byrne: The information requested is as follows.
(a) The costs for Christmas cards over the last five years are as follows:
| Home Office | |
| £ | |
| (1) No information held centrally | |
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