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4 Jun 2008 : Column 1006W—continued
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the impact on the sustainability of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Uganda of the time taken to sign it. [207507]
Meg Munn: The draft Final Peace Agreement, between the Ugandan Government and the Lord’s Resistance Army, represents a considerable achievement. The Government have called for it to be signed as soon as possible while recognising that full implementation will depend on the agreement of all parties.
Uganda: Politics and Government
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the ability of the Uganda Special Court to provide trials for the leaders of the Lords Resistance Army in accordance with the principles of international humanitarian law; and whether the Government has offered legal advice to the Government of Uganda on the constitution of the Uganda Special Court. [207543]
Meg Munn: As the Final Peace Agreement between the Ugandan Government and the Lord’s Resistance Army has yet to be signed, the method of justice for those that perpetrated war crimes and human rights abuses during the conflict has not been finally agreed. Should a special division of the Ugandan High Court be established, the Government will press for it to be fully compatible with the Rome Statute and international law. The Government have not provided nor offered any legal advice to the Ugandan Government.
Zimbabwe: Arms Trade
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to press countries of the Southern African Development Community to commit themselves to preventing arms transfers to Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [207849]
David Miliband: The EU and US have an embargo on the sale of arms to Zimbabwe. We encourage all countries to adopt this approach and support the call for a temporary moratorium on all arms sales until Zimbabwe has a democratic Government in place.
We have lobbied the Chinese about the sale of arms to Zimbabwe and we, and other EU partners, have lobbied southern African Governments. We also raised this in the UN Security Council on 29 April 2008.
Zimbabwe: Economic Situation
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with his European counterparts on taking steps against the (a) manufacture and (b) transfer of paper for the printing of Zimbabwe dollar bearer cheques by European countries. [207484]
Meg Munn: We have discussed the manufacture and supply of paper for the printing of Zimbabwean bearer cheques with the German government. It is a matter for them to decide on how to proceed.
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will request the European Commission to investigate whether the delivery of paper by MK Airline for the printing of Zimbabwe dollar bearer cheques is in breach of EU rules relating to Zimbabwe. [207485]
Meg Munn: The EU targeted measures consist of a travel ban and assets freeze against 131 named individuals and an arms embargo. There are no economic sanctions against Zimbabwe and therefore nothing to investigate in this instance.
Zimbabwe: Elections
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to seek to help ensure that the second round of Presidential elections in Zimbabwe is free and fair; and if he will make a statement. [207806]
David Miliband: It is vital that election observers are deployed to Zimbabwe as soon as possible. Their presence will help deter the current high levels of political violence. The Southern African Development Community and the African Union have a crucial role to play in providing observers in sufficient numbers. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Lord Malloch-Brown, and I, have stressed this with African and other international leaders, and we will maintain close contact with them in the run up to polling day.
Zimbabwe: Human Rights
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the establishment of a UN mission to Zimbabwe to monitor human rights; and if he will make a statement. [207808]
David Miliband: In our contacts with the UN Secretary-General, we continue to encourage the UN to send an envoy or mission to Zimbabwe to monitor the worsening human rights situation in that country. This is urgently needed before the presidential election on 27 June.
Zimbabwe: Politics and Government
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the financial solvency of the Zimbabwe government. [207483]
Meg Munn:
It is impossible to know the full extent of the financial solvency of the government of Zimbabwe for varied reasons including lack of disclosure on public
finances and debt. The country's economy is in ruins through the economic and political mismanagement of Robert Mugabe and his ZANU-PF government. But we do know the policy of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to continue printing money is a major driver of the country's hyper-inflation which, according to leaked government sources, had reached 355,000 per cent. in March.
Zimbabwe: Trade Unions
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the government of Zimbabwe on the treatment of trade unionists in that country, with particular reference to trades union leaders Lovemore Matombo and Wellington Chibebe; and if he will make a statement. [207196]
Meg Munn: We, along with EU colleagues, regularly raise our concerns about human rights with the Government of Zimbabwe. Sadly, they have disregarded our calls for respect of the rule of law and the cessation of violence and intimidation of those who have stood up for their rights.
In spite of the challenges they face, ordinary members of civil society including trade union members remain committed to democratic change in Zimbabwe. We applaud their efforts to effect change through peaceful and legitimate means. Government officials carefully monitor the situation, including the extent of human rights abuses.
Zimbabwe: Weapons
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on whether the cargo of weapons from China destined for Zimbabwe has been delivered to that country. [207486]
Meg Munn: We were given assurances by the relevant governments that no official shipment of arms had been allowed; however, we are aware of media reports that the arms shipment has been delivered and are making enquiries to establish the accuracy of the information.
Culture, Media and Sport
Arts: Conferences
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much (a) the Big Lottery Fund, (b) the Heritage Lottery Fund, (c) Arts Council England, (d) Sport England, (e) UK Sport and (f) the UK Film Council spent on conferences in each of the last three years; and what percentage of each was funded out of National Lottery income. [206726]
Mr. Sutcliffe [holding answer 20 May 2008]: Figures for the amount spent on conferences in each of the last three years, and the percentage that was funded out of national lottery income, as provided by the bodies in question, are as follows:
| Cost 2007-08 (£) (Percentage out of national lottery income) | Cost 2006-07 (£) (Percentage out of national lottery income) | Cost 2005-06 (£) (Percentage out of national lottery income) | |
Figures for Arts Council England could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Manpower
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many full-time equivalent employees were in post in his Department in each year since 1997, broken down by division. [208261]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The information is in the following table.
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