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25 Apr 2008 : Column 2322W—continued
Gaza: Borders
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in securing the return of EU monitors to the Rafah border crossing with Gaza; and if he will make a statement. [200077]
David Miliband: The EU is ready to consider resuming its border assistance mission at the Rafah crossing, which has been dormant since Hamas took over Gaza last summer, as soon as conditions allow. The EU's High Representative Javier Solana, and the EU Special Representative to the middle east peace process continue to engage Israel and the Palestinian Authority on the re-opening of the crossing.
We continue to call on all parties to work urgently to reopen the Gaza crossings. We look forward to the resumption of normal operations at the crossings under
Palestinian Authority control. With my European colleagues I have continued to call for the continuous provision of essential goods and services, including fuel and power supplies from Israel into Gaza. With other EU Foreign Ministers, I have also announced our support for the Palestinian Authority's proposal to take control of the crossings.
Health Services
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department provides health or social care services out of public funds, with reference to the Statement by the Minister of State, Department of Health, in the Health and Social Care Bill Committee, of 17 January 2008, Official Report, column 327. [200229]
Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not provide health and social care services. It does however fund arrangements for UK civil servants and their families whom it employs overseas to receive the range and standard of health and social care services that they would be able to access under the national health service and from Social Services in the UK.
JP Morgan
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department paid to JP Morgan in each year since 1997; and what the purpose of each payment was. [199616]
Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no record of any payments made in the UK to JP Morgan since 1997. It would incur disproportionate cost to obtain details from posts about any payments they may have made to this supplier.
Karian and Box
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the value was of each contract awarded by his Department to Karian and Box since 1997. [199649]
Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and FCO Services have no record of any contracts being awarded to Karian and Box since 1997.
Middle East: Peace Negotiations
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of progress in Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations since the Conference in Annapolis; and what his assessment is of both parties' compliance with (a) international law and (b) the framework set out in the 2003 Roadmap. [200151]
Dr. Howells:
The UK continues to support the ongoing negotiations led by Israeli Prime Minister Olmert and Palestinian President Abbas; Israeli Foreign Minister Livni and Palestinian Chief Negotiator Ahmed Qurei; and Israeli Defence Minister Barak and Palestinian Prime Minister Fayyad. We welcome Israeli Defence Minister Barak’s announcement that as a result of
discussions on 31 March, there will be improved movement and access inside the West Bank. This demonstrates the importance of the ongoing discussions at a high level between the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli Government.
The UK has consistently called for all sides to abide by international law. We have made clear that Israeli settlement activities are illegal under international law. The UK welcomed the renewed commitment both sides made at Annapolis to the 2003 Roadmap. Both sides need to work to fulfil their obligations under the Roadmap. The Roadmap is clear that Israel must freeze all settlement activity and that the Palestinian Authority must develop an effective security apparatus.
Official Residences
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2008, Official Report, columns 591-2W, on departmental official residences, what guidance he issues on the tax liability of (a) Ministers of the Crown in any official ministerial residence and (b) former Ministers of the Crown occupying official ministerial residences. [199508]
Meg Munn: I refer the hon. Member to the reply to the Parliamentary Secretary, the Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for (Mr. Watson) gave to him on 13 March, Official Report, columns 591-592W. Former Ministers continue to be responsible for tax liability associated with ancillary services in official residences, while they make arrangements to move to other accommodation.
Pakistan: Politics and Government
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of steps taken by the new government in Pakistan on improving human rights and democratic governance. [199417]
Dr. Howells: We welcome the statements made by Pakistani Prime Minister Gillani in his address to the National Assembly on 29 March, when he set out his priorities for the first 100 days of his coalition government. He announced measures for democratic reform, indicating that he wished to promote greater parliamentary accountability and engage civil society in the process of strengthening democratic institutions. He called for a revival of trade and student unions and also undertook to revoke laws against press freedom, improve freedom of information legislation and establish a review commission to examine the issue of political prisoners.
Palestinians: Overseas Aid
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether all the funding pledges made at the 2007 Paris Donor Conference for aid to the Palestinians have been disbursed to the Palestinian Authority; and if he will make a statement. [200075]
David Miliband: The 2007 Paris Donor Conference resulted in US$7.7 billion of pledges being made to the Palestinian Authority. These pledges are to be disbursed over the next three years. Therefore the complete US$7.7 billion has not yet reached the Palestinian Authority. The UK pledged to contribute £243 million over three years linked to tangible progress in peace negotiations.
On 2 April my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development announced the disbursement of £32 million for Palestinians in 2008. This money forms part of our Paris pledge and was in response to a request from Palestinian Prime Minister Fayyad. We hope our lead will be followed by other donors.
We expect further discussion of this at the next Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting, which the UK and Norway will jointly chair in London on 2 May.
Western Sahara: Human Rights
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British ambassador in Rabat is monitoring the human rights situation in the occupied Western Sahara; and when the ambassador last visited the occupied territories. [199346]
Dr. Howells: Our ambassador in Rabat and his staff monitor human rights in Western Sahara. They maintain a close and continual dialogue with local and international non-governmental organisations working in the territory.
Our ambassador has not visited the territory, but members of his staff have done so.
Yemen: Politics and Government
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in southern Yemen. [200079]
David Miliband: Civil unrest over economic and social issues is growing, especially in the south of Yemen. Most of the grievances are shared nationally: lack of jobs, the rising prices of basic commodities including fuel and food and an inadequate safety net for the genuinely needy. Some southerners are calling for secession from the north and a return to two states, as before 1990. Most Yemenis want a single Yemen and national unity remains safe. But the Government of Yemen needs to address the issues that are generating discontent in the south of their country.
Zimbabwe: Overseas Residence
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of British nationals resident in Zimbabwe. [200078]
David Miliband: Our embassy in Harare has recently conducted a re-registration campaign for British nationals in Zimbabwe. As a result, we estimate that approximately 14,000 people are eligible for British consular support. The embassy is in regular contact with registered British nationals via the well established wardens network across the country.
Zurich Financial Services
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department paid to Zurich Financial Services in each year since 1997; and what the purpose of the payment was in each case. [199602]
Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no record of any payments made in the UK to Zurich Financial Services since 1997. It would incur disproportionate cost to obtain details from posts about any payments they may have made to this supplier.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Biofuels: Sustainable Development
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 26 January 2007, Official Report, column 2112W, on biofuels, what steps he has taken to ensure palm oil is not used in biofuel without a declaration relating to its sustainable sourcing; and if he will make a statement. [200798]
Jim Fitzpatrick: I have been asked to reply.
Under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), which came into effect on 15 April, transport fuel suppliers are required to report on the sustainability of any biofuels in respect of which they wish to earn renewable transport fuel certificates. Details of the reporting requirements are available via the Renewable Fuels Agency's website at http://www.dft.gov.uk/rfa. The Renewable Fuels Agency will report regularly on the performance of different transport fuel suppliers. The Government are pressing for EU-wide mandatory sustainability standards for all biofuels: these could be in place by April 2010.
Heating: EC Law
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his assessment is of the suitability of the criteria used in the Energy-using Products Directive for the measurement of boiler energy efficiency. [201492]
Joan Ruddock: The European Commission issued a working document on boilers and water heaters on 31 January. This is a first draft of the Commission’s proposed implementing measure on these products under the Framework Directive on the Eco Design of Energy using Products.
The proposals have been assessed by experts working on the Market Transformation Programme and this analysis, together with the views expressed by industry, have been instrumental in developing the Government’s position on this. The Government have concerns with both the approach put forward in the working document, and the underlying model used to inform this. The Government made this position clear at a meeting of the Consultation Forum on 28 February and in subsequent written comments. Officials have also spoken to the Commission bilaterally to highlight these concerns and try to agree a way forward.
New Forest Official Verderer
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) for what reason the appointment of the next Official Verderer of the New Forest has not been announced; and when the announcement is to be made; [201365]
(2) whether it is planned that there will be a gap following the expiry of the term of the current Official Verderer before either he is reappointed or another candidate is appointed; and if he will make a statement. [201366]
Joan Ruddock [holding answer 24 April 2008]: An announcement regarding the appointment of the next Official Verderer of the New Forest will be made in due course.
Packaging: Drinks
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will introduce a national deposit system for drinks containers to encourage the public to return used drinks containers to where they were bought from. [200911]
Joan Ruddock: We will be looking at a range of ideas to improve the collection of material for recycling, including drinks containers consumed inside and outside of the home. Looking at deposit schemes will be part of this work.
Any solutions have to make both environmental and economic sense if they are to be successful. In the past, deposit and return schemes have been phased out in this country because they did not make financial sense for the operating companies. We would only support the re-introduction of such systems if they delivered environmental benefits in a practical and cost-effective way.
Recycling
Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what tonnage of material leaving materials recovery facilities was sent to another materials recovery facility for further treatment in the last 12 months. [200567]
Joan Ruddock: DEFRA does not hold the information requested. Local authorities are not required to report material sent from one materials recovery facility to another.
Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what tonnage of materials collected for recycling from households was delivered to the gates of materials recovery facilities in the last 12 months. [200568]
Joan Ruddock: During 2006-07, the latest complete validated data available, 1.3 million tonnes of municipal waste collected for recycling in England was sent to a materials recovery facility for further treatment. This is based on data reported by local authorities to WasteDataFlow.
Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what tonnage of materials collected for recycling from households was rejected at the gate of a (a) materials recovery facility and (b) recycling processor in the last 12 months. [200569]
Joan Ruddock: During 2006-07, the latest complete validated data available, local authorities reported a total of 89,000 tonnes collected for recycling from household sources as rejected for disposal at a materials recovery facility and a further 32,000 tonnes that were rejected at the gate of a recycling processor. This is based on data reported by local authorities to WasteDataFlow.
Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to maximise the proportion of recovered materials that reach end reprocessors in a clean state. [200570]
Joan Ruddock: A number of factors determine the quality of recyclable materials, including market price, source, and methods of collection and separation. The Government provide support and advice on recycling to businesses and local authorities via the DEFRA-funded waste and resources action programme (WRAP).
Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tonnes of materials were sent from materials recovery facilities to (a) landfill sites and (b) energy from waste facilities in the last 12 months. [200571]
Joan Ruddock: Of the 89,000 tonnes of municipal waste collected for recycling in 2006-07 and rejected at a materials recovery facility, 55,000 tonnes were sent to landfill and nearly 34,000 tonnes were sent for incineration with energy recovery. This is based on data reported by local authorities to WasteDataFlow.
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