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24 Apr 2008 : Column 2196W—continued
HM Revenue and Customs already conducts routine checks on international cargo according to specific criteria based on risk and intelligence.
Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether UK forces have been engaged in active operations with US forces in Task Force 6-26. [197028]
Des Browne [holding answer 26 March 2008]: I have been asked to reply.
I am withholding the information requested as its release would or would be likely to prejudice international relations.
Kenya: Human Rights
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' report on Kenya, with specific reference to the question of amnesty; and if he will make a statement. [199212]
Meg Munn:
The Government welcome the report of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Kenya and fully supports its recommendations.
The Government agree that perpetrators of gross human rights violations should not be recommended for amnesty. The culture of impunity contributed to the scale of violence in the immediate post-election period. It is vital that those who participate in or incite violence face justice.
Kosovo: Nationality
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government consider Serbs living in Kosovo to be of Serbian or Kosovan nationality. [198889]
Mr. Jim Murphy: Inhabitants of Kosovo can determine their nationality according to their eligibility under the laws of any relevant country.
Middle East: Politics and Government
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment the Government have made of the viability of a two-state solution in the Middle East without involvement of (a) Hamas and (b) Hezbollah. [198884]
Dr. Howells: The UK wholly supports President Abbas and the Palestinian Authority. We believe that the Annapolis process, including negotiations between President Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Olmert represents the best way forward towards a viable two-state solution in accordance with their Roadmap committments.
The UK believes that Palestinian unity will be crucial to the creation of a Palestinian state. We believe it is for the Palestinian parties to decide when they are ready to engage with one another. President Abbas has made clear his conditions for dialogue. We have also made clear that without significant movement on the part of Hamas to meet the Quartet's principles, we will be unable to engage with them.
Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the steps towards nuclear disarmament agreed at the 2000 review conference on the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. [199256]
Dr. Howells: The UK is fulfilling all its obligations under the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons (NPT), including those on disarmament under article VI of the treaty. We continue to support the relevant disarmament measures contained in the final document from the NPT Review Conference in 2000, including the 13 practical steps towards disarmament, and we have a good record on meeting the priorities they set out. Not all the 13 steps are relevant to the UK, such as those relating to bilateral measures between the US and Russia.
Peacekeeping Operations: Private Sector
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to introduce legislation to regulate private military and security companies. [198807]
Dr. Howells: In late 2004, my right hon. Friend the then Foreign Secretary (Mr. Straw) requested a review by officials of the options for the regulation of the overseas operations of private military and security companies, registered in or operating from the UK. This applies to private military and security companies operating both in Afghanistan and elsewhere overseas. This was to follow up on the Green Paper of 2002, ‘Private Military Companies: Options for Regulation’ and to respond to the increase in activities of private military and security companies in areas of conflict overseas.
The review was completed in mid-2005 and suggested a number of options for ways in which the industry could be better managed. The review highlighted some complex issues, particularly in designating which activities should be regulated and how this could be implemented. This issue, along with the options for more effective supervision, continues to be the subject of Ministerial correspondence and official consultation. The Government have undertaken to keep Parliament fully informed of their proposals in this area. If it is decided that regulation is appropriate, the Government will put the proposals to public consultation.
Russia: Foreign Relations
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last held discussions with his Russian counterpart; what was discussed; and if he will make a statement. [199214]
Mr. Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the margins of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Summit on 3 April. Their discussion focused on the Middle East, including the Middle East Peace Process and Iran.
Russia: Politics and Government
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Russian policy towards independence of (a) South Ossetia, (b) Abkhazia and (c) Kosovo. [198885]
Mr. Jim Murphy: Russia, like the UK, does not recognise South Ossetia or Abkhazia as independent states. In successive Resolutions, most recently Resolution 1781 (2007), the UN Security Council has reaffirmed the commitment of all member states to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders. We look to Russia to use her influence constructively to help bring about the peaceful settlement of both unresolved conflicts.
Russia does not recognise Kosovo as an independent state. The UK recognised Kosovo on 18 February 2008.
Russia: TNK-BP
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the recent (a) accusations and (b) investigations against TNK-BP (i) employees and (ii) interests in Russia; and if he will make a statement. [199215]
Mr. Jim Murphy: We are aware that on 19 and 20 March, the Russian authorities conducted searches at the Moscow offices of both TNK-BP, and BP. Files and computer servers were seized and company employees were questioned. We are also aware that on 25 March BP recalled 148 of its secondees from TNK-BP following a problem with their legal status. Most of the staff affected, including British nationals, have decided to remain in Moscow until the dispute is resolved. On the same day the Russian Interior Ministry launched an investigation into alleged tax evasion at a former subsidiary of TNK-BP.
We are in touch with the companies and continue to monitor the situation closely. We welcome the recent statement by Russia’s President-elect, Dmitry Medvedev, that actions against TNK-BP were not politically motivated. We expect any investigations by the Russian authorities to be conducted with full transparency and in accordance with Russian law.
Somalia: Armed Conflict
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received of the fighting in Mogadishu on 19 March 2008; what assessment he has made of such reports; and if he will make a statement. [199222]
Meg Munn: There was an insurgent attack on an Ethiopian base near a livestock market in northern Mogadishu on 19 March 2008. During the fighting eight people are reported to have been killed, including two civilians.
The Government are concerned about the ongoing violence in Mogadishu and call on all parties to renounce violence and commit to resolving their differences through dialogue. We support the efforts of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia to facilitate such dialogue.
Somalia: Peacekeeping Operations
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) he, (b) his Department and (c) UK representatives have had with (i) members and (ii) representatives of (A) the governments of member states of the European Union, (B) the Government of Russia, (C) the Government of the United States, (D) the governments of member states of the African Union, (E) the Government of Ethiopia, (F) the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and (G) the United Nations Secretariat on the (1) security situation in, (2) humanitarian situation in, (3) political stability of, (4) African Union deployment in and (5) UN augmentation or replacement of the African Union deployment in Somalia; and if he will make a statement. [199213]
Meg Munn: The Government maintain regular contact, at ministerial and official level, with all parties the hon. Member lists in his question, including:
EU Heads of Mission meetings in Nairobi; EU Political Counsellors meetings in Nairobi; Africa Working Group meetings in Brussels; bilateral meetings with officials of member governments of the EU;
bilateral discussions with: the USA; member states of the African Union, including Ethiopia, and the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia; and
discussions in New York and Nairobi with the United Nations Secretariat and with member states of the UN Security Council, including Russia, USA and members who are also EU and African Union members.
For example, my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, met President Abdullahi Yusuf in London on 21 January 2008; Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein in Addis Ababa on 1 February 2008; and the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative, Ahmedou Ould Abdalla, in London on 17 March 2008.
All discussions aim to maintain a coordinated international response to improve the political, security and humanitarian situation in Somalia and to support the Transitional Federal Institutions and Transitional Federal Government to restore peace, stability and governance to Somalia, as envisaged in the Transitional Federal Charter.
South Ossetia: Politics and Government
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria the Government use in determining its policy on whether South Ossetia should be recognised as an independent country. [198888]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The Government do not recognise South Ossetia as an independent state, but consider it to be part of the territory of Georgia which the UK recognised in 1992.
The international community has consistently reaffirmed Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty including through successive UN Security Council resolutions on Georgia, most recently resolution 1781 (2007) of 15 October 2007, in which the Security Council
“reaffirms the commitment of all Member states to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders”.
Taiwan: Politics and Government
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria the Government use in determining their policy on whether Taiwan should be recognised as an independent country. [198887]
Meg Munn: The Government's long-standing position is that it does not recognise Taiwan as an independent State. We acknowledge the position of the Chinese Government that Taiwan is a province of China and recognise the Chinese Government as the sole legal Government of China.
Timor Leste: Death
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss the New South Wales coroner's findings on the death of the British journalist Brian Peters in Balibo, East Timor in 1975 with the Australian Prime Minister on his forthcoming visit to the UK; and if he will make a statement. [198821]
Meg Munn: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary did not discuss the death of Brian Peters when he met with the Australian Prime Minister earlier this month.
However, I plan to raise this issue with the Australian government to find out how the case is progressing and seek an indication as to when the process might be completed.
Yemen: Armed Conflict
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the activity by rebels under the command of Abdul-Malik al Houthi (a) since the signing of the agreement between his group and the government of Yemen on 1 February 2008, (b) between June and September 2007 and (c) between 2004 and 2007; and if he will make a statement. [199219]
Dr. Howells: The Government of Yemen has been fighting a series of internal conflicts with al-Houthi-led rebels in the Governorate of Sa’dah since 2004. This conflict is an internal matter, driven by a complicated mix of tribal, religious and economic factors. We acknowledge the need for the Government of Yemen to maintain security within its borders. However, we have called for dialogue between the Government of Yemen and the Houthis to try to achieve a ceasefire. A recent Qatari-led mediation effort has achieved a pause in the fighting. This is fragile, and we continue to receive reports of sporadic violence in isolated areas. But we welcome the Qatari mediation effort and consider it the best route to achieving a lasting peace in Sa’dah.
Yemen: Politics and Government
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) he, (b) his Department and (c) UK representatives have had with (i) members and (ii) representatives of the government of (A) the United States, (B) members of the European Union, (C) Russia and (D) Yemen on the (1) social, (2) humanitarian and (3) political situation in Yemen; and if he will make a statement. [199220]
Dr. Howells: The UK is a leading western donor to Yemen. Officials from our Embassy in Sana’a have almost daily contact with the US, EU member states resident in Yemen and the Yemeni Government, regularly raising political, humanitarian and development issues. In addition, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office meets frequently with officials from the Yemeni embassy in London. I have visited Yemen on two occasions since becoming a Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and hope to do so again soon. I have raised Yemen’s developmental and political situation with the Yemeni Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the action taken by the government of Yemen in the north of the country since January 2007; and if he will make a statement. [199221]
Dr. Howells: The Government of Yemen has been fighting a series of internal conflicts with al-Huthi-led rebels in the Governorate of Sa’dah since 2004. This conflict is an internal matter and we acknowledge the need for the Government of Yemen to maintain security within its borders. We have also called for care to avoid civilian casualties and for dialogue between the Government of Yemen and the Huthis to try to achieve a ceasefire. A recent Qatari-led mediation effort has achieved a pause in the fighting, although we continue to receive reports of sporadic violence in isolated areas. We welcome the Qatari mediation effort and consider it the best route to achieving a lasting peace in Sa’dah.
Duchy of Lancaster
Charities: Fraud
Jo Swinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 3 April 2008, Official Report, column 1140W, on charities: fraud, what steps he plans to take to ensure that copies of the leaflet are printed and distributed to households in Scotland. [201358]
Phil Hope: Charity law and regulation, including the charitable collections of goods, is devolved and a matter for the Scottish Government.
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