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4 Mar 2008 : Column 2354W—continued
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
British Indian Ocean Territory: Military Bases
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Statement of 21 February 2008, Official Report, column 547, on terrorist suspects (renditions), whether he plans to (a) review and (b) seek changes to the agreement between the UK and the US on the military use of the Chagos Islands. [190233]
Meg Munn: The 1966 Exchange of Notes, by which the British Indian Ocean Territory was set aside for the defence purposes of the UK and the US, will continue in force for a further period of 20 years beyond 2016, unless it is duly terminated. The UK and US will of course continue to consult closely on their mutual defence needs.
Burma: Arms Trade
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support calls for a universal arms embargo on Burma and to introduce such an embargo through the UN Security Council. [189963]
Meg Munn: The UK works closely with its partners at the UN to press the Burmese regime to engage constructively with the Secretary-General's Good Offices mission. We have made clear that, should the regime fail to make progress towards genuine national reconciliation, under UN auspices, we would press for further UN action. We would support the imposition of a UN arms embargo. Such a measure would require the adoption of a Chapter VII Resolution by the Security Council.
A strict EU arms embargo is already in place. We stand ready to elaborate further restrictive measures if we see no, or limited, progress on reform by the Burmese regime.
Burma: Sanctions
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support calls for targeted banking sanctions against members of the military regime in Burma. [189964]
Meg Munn: We are actively examining the options for extending existing measures to include targeted banking sanctions against members of the military regime in Burma.
The EU common position on Burma includes a ban on investment and the provision of financial services to certain enterprises linked to the military regime. It also includes an asset freeze, which targets the regime leadership, the senior ranks of the military and their family members.
Burma: Singapore
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to urge the government of Singapore to introduce a visa ban on members of Burma’ military regime to prevent them from entering Singapore for any reason. [189965]
Meg Munn: We are in regular contact with the Singaporean authorities regarding the situation in Burma. I spoke to the Singaporean Ministry for Foreign Affairs, 2(nd) Permanent Secretary Bilahari Kausikan, on 18 February to discuss recent developments in Burma.
Singapore, both nationally and in its current role as Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) chair, has made clear its concerns about the violent repression carried out by the Burmese authorities last year, its wish to see the regime engaging in genuine dialogue with Burma’s opposition parties, and its support for the UN Secretary-General’s goodwill mission. Singapore and its ASEAN partners do not support the application of sanctions at this time. The imposition of sanctions is part of our ongoing conversation with Singapore and other countries in the region.
We will continue to encourage all our ASEAN partners to do all they can to support political reform and national reconciliation.
Departmental Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) guidance and (b) training is provided by his Department to (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in relation to the answering of (A) written and (B) oral parliamentary questions; and if he will make a statement. [191208]
Meg Munn [holding answer 3 March 2008]: Ministers appointed to work in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) receive on arrival a bespoke briefing pack, which includes guidance on parliamentary procedures.
The FCO’s intranet contains written guidance on all aspects of parliamentary work, including drafting replies to written and oral questions. The FCO’s Parliamentary Relations Team run a one-day course for officials on parliamentary work, which includes advice on drafting replies to written and oral questions. In addition, FCO officials have the option of attending other courses on parliamentary work offered by the National School of Government.
Diplomatic Service: Security
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions British Embassies and Consulates have been subject to (a) data security breaches, (b) physical intrusion and (c) incidents which have compromised the physical integrity of the premises or the safety of staff since 1997; and what the nature of each incident was. [189987]
Meg Munn: It is not Foreign and Commonwealth Office practice to comment on security at its overseas posts.
Equatorial Guinea: Diplomatic Service
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will reopen the UK mission to Equatorial Guinea. [190237]
Meg Munn: The UK has never had a mission in Equatorial Guinea.
Non-resident diplomatic cover for Equatorial Guinea is provided by our high commissioner in Abuja and his staff. Consular cover is provided by our deputy high commission in Lagos and there is a British Honorary Consul resident in Malabo.
The Government have no plans to establish a permanent diplomatic presence in Equatorial Guinea at this point. We believe that current arrangements are sufficient to represent UK interests in Equatorial Guinea.
Equatorial Guinea: Simon Mann
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects a date to be set for the trial of Simon Mann in Equatorial Guinea; and if he will make a statement. [191240]
Meg Munn [holding answer 3 March 2008]: The timing of any trial is a matter for the Equatorial Guinea legal authorities.
European Union: Banks
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to discuss the use of European banking systems to facilitate (a) tax evasion and (b) criminal activity on the part of UK citizens with the EU Council of Ministers. [190065]
Mr. Jim Murphy: We expect tax evasion and related issues to be discussed at the Economic and Financial Affairs Council today, in advance of the spring European Council on 13-14 March. The UK believes the EU has a key role to play in tackling cross-border tax evasion and financial crime. The EU continues to work to prevent tax evasion and financial crime under various directives, including the savings tax directive and relevant agreements with third countries.
Islam
Mr. Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what visits abroad were funded by his Department in relation to the Projecting British Muslims project in each year since it was established; what the cost of each visit was; and who the members of the relevant delegations from Britain were who participated in each visit. [191597]
Dr. Howells: With regard to Projecting British Islam delegations, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 13 December 2007, Official Report, column 831W.
Israel
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations were made to the Israeli authorities following the attempted arrest of General Almog in September 2005 on the denial of police access to the El Al aeroplane at Heathrow Airport. [190351]
Dr. Howells: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office made no representations to the Israeli authorities on this issue. Aviation security is a matter for the Department for Transport and policing at Heathrow airport is a matter for the Metropolitan Police and the Home Office.
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has obtained assurances from the Israeli authorities on the co-operation of armed Israeli air marshals with UK police officers in the lawful execution of their duty on aircraft on British soil. [190352]
Dr. Howells: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not sought assurances from the Government of Israel regarding air marshals. Aviation security is a matter for the Department for Transport and policing at Heathrow airport is a matter for the Metropolitan Police and the Home Office.
Japan: Whales
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Minister for Asia had with the Japanese Foreign Minister in Tokyo in January on Japan’s whaling programme in the Southern Ocean; and if he will make a statement. [189968]
Dr. Howells: My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, visited Tokyo from 17-19 January. During his discussion with the Japanese Foreign Minister, the Minister reiterated the UK’s strong opposition to Japan’s whaling programme.
The Government believe whaling is inherently cruel and continue strongly to urge Japan to cease its whaling activities. In December last year our ambassador in Tokyo took part in a 30 country (plus the European Commission) demarche to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to protest against Japan’s whaling
programme. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs my hon. Friend the Member for Chatham and Aylesford (Jonathan Shaw) met with the deputy head of mission at the Japanese embassy in January and robustly challenged Japan’s policy on whaling, pointing out that the UK would continue to state our opposition on this issue publicly.
Mineral Waters
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many litres of bottled water were purchased by his Department in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [191252]
Meg Munn: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Nepal: Elections
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support he plans to provide to assist democratic elections in Nepal. [191602]
Dr. Howells: We continue to believe that the elections to a Constituent Assembly in Nepal, currently planned for 10 April, are key to sustaining the momentum of the current peace process. It is important that all political parties in Nepal, with the support of the international community including the UK, work to ensure that they are credible, free and fair and that they allow a voice to all marginalised groups. We have maintained our wide-ranging backing for the electoral process, including through co-funding the Election Commission and supporting voter education programmes. In addition, we have provided funding to allow the Carter Centre and Asia Foundation to provide international and local non-governmental organisations to monitor elections. As part of our efforts to encourage wider international support, we have pressed the EU to increase the number of election monitors it will deploy to Nepal. Through the UK’s Global Conflict Prevention Pool, we have recently approved funding for a number of hon. Members to travel to Nepal to take part in an election observation mission.
Nepal: Human Rights
Mr. MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the political and human rights situation of the Madhesis people of Nepal. [191422]
Dr. Howells:
The question of Madhesi rights and engagement in the political process has risen sharply up the agenda through the last year, following significant disturbances and violent protests across the Terai region. Throughout this period, the UK, with our international partners, has continued to urge the Government of Nepal to engage with Madhesi groups, to address their legitimate concerns and to bring them into a fully representative electoral process. The UK joined with our EU partners in welcoming the
28 February 2008 agreement between the Government of Nepal and the United Democratic Madhesi Front, which addresses many of the main Madhesi demands and which has allowed Madhesi parties to start the process of nominating candidates to the elections.
Through the UK’s continuing support of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal and local and international non-governmental organisations, the UK has worked to reduce human rights violations in the Terai and elsewhere in Nepal. While the agreement of 28 February 2008 will go some way to ensuring the recognition of Madhesi rights, the UK will continue to work with human rights defenders across Nepal to help promote respect for international human rights standards.
Pakistan: Politics and Government
Mr. MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Pakistan. [191421]
Dr. Howells: I welcome the opportunity taken by the people of Pakistan to exercise their democratic voice in the recent elections. I endorse the EU Election Observation Mission report’s findings and we are pleased they assessed that the elections were competitive, despite the well-documented procedural problems.
Despite fundamental problems in the electoral process in the run up to election day, we recognise there has been progress since the last elections in 2002. The Government are determined to work closely with the people and Government of Pakistan to help them meet the challenges they now face—including political, economic, education and health.
Spain: Football
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Spanish counterpart on the violence at the Bolton Wanderers versus Atletico Madrid football match in Madrid on 21 February 2008. [190041]
Mr. Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not held discussions with his Spanish counterpart on this issue. The Home Office has requested police and other reports on the incident. Bolton Wanderers and the Football Association are also pursuing this matter with UEFA.
Sudan: Armed Conflict
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received reports of clashes between the Misseriya and Dinka in Southern Kordofan. [189995]
Meg Munn:
We are aware of clashes between the Misseriya and Dinka tribes in South Kordofan which the UN Mission in Sudan has attributed to disputes over land access, grazing rights and migration. Through the Department for International Development, we are funding a stability assessment in South Kordofan and
governance capacity-building programme (implemented through the UN Development Programme) to improve institutional capacity to respond to such disputes and deal with returning internally displaced persons.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the government of Sudan on attacks carried out by Sudanese government forces in West Darfur since 8 February and the impact of the violence on the humanitarian situation there; and if he will make a statement. [189996]
Meg Munn: Our ambassador in Khartoum, in a meeting with Sudanese presidential adviser Mustafa Osman Ismail on 21 February, expressed our deep concern about civilian casualties and displacement following the Sudanese armed forces attacks in the Jebel Moun in West Darfur on 18-19 February. She called on the Sudanese Government to meet their responsibilities under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and to end all aerial bombing immediately.
My right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for International Development, called on all parties to stop the violence, allow immediate humanitarian access, to protect civilians and to facilitate the deployment of the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur in a joint statement of 27 February.
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