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23 Jun 2008 : Column 77W—continued
Kosovo: International Cooperation
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the adequacy of co-operation between the European Union, the United Nations and NATO in Kosovo. [212056]
David Miliband: The EU, UN and NATO continue to work together closely to achieve their shared goal: a stable, prosperous and multi-ethnic Kosovo and wider Balkan region. All relevant players have consulted closely on the arrangements for the reconfiguration of international presences in Kosovo set out in the report of the UN Secretary-General to the UN Security Council of 12 June.
Kosovo: Politics and Government
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in defining the respective competences of the EU's EULEX mission in Kosovo and the UN's UNMIK mission. [212055]
David Miliband: The UN Secretary-General's report on the UN Mission in Kosovo of 12 June, envisages that the EU Rule of Law mission will perform an enhanced operational role in the area of rule of law under the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999) and the overall authority of the UN. The EU will gradually assume increasing operational responsibility in the areas of international policing, justice, and customs throughout Kosovo.
The UN presence will be reconfigured to carry out the following functions, among others yet to be defined: monitoring and reporting; facilitating, where necessary and possible, arrangements for Kosovo's engagement in international agreements; facilitating dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade on issues of practical concern; and functions related to a proposed dialogue with the government in Belgrade on the issues of police, courts, customs, transportation and infrastructure, boundaries and Serbian patrimony.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress made in the deployment of the EULEX mission to Kosovo. [212057]
David Miliband: The EU Rule of Law mission is in the process of deploying throughout Kosovo. It will gradually take up its responsibilities over the summer, in coordination with the UN Mission in Kosovo and the other international presences.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role the United Nations Mission in Kosovo will assume following the coming into force of Kosovo's constitution on 15th June. [212058]
David Miliband: The UN Secretary-General's report on the UN Mission in Kosovo of 12 June envisaged that, following the entry into force of Kosovo's Constitution, the UN presence in Kosovo would be reconfigured to carry out the following functions, among others to be fully defined: monitoring and reporting; facilitating, where necessary and possible, arrangements for Kosovo's engagement in international agreements; facilitating dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade on issues of practical concern; and functions related to a proposed dialogue with the government in Belgrade on the issues of police, courts, customs, transportation and infrastructure, boundaries and Serbian patrimony.
Lebanon: Foreign Relations
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on official contact with the government of Lebanon; and if he will make a statement. [210451]
David Miliband: The UK has contact with the current Government of Lebanon, both at official and ministerial level. During a visit to Lebanon from 8-9 June, I met President Suleiman, Prime Minister Siniora and Speaker Berri.
The Doha Accord of 21 May 2008 called for the formation of a new National Unity Government. We hope that this Government can be appointed swiftly.
North Korea: Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has received representations from the International Atomic Energy Agency seeking clarification of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's legal status under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty; and what UK policy is on this matter. [210482]
David Miliband: In Dr. ElBaradei's Introductory Statement to the Board of Governors on 2 June, he asked for guidance from states parties about the status of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT). We have not received any direct representation from the International Atomic Energy Agency on this point. We continue to regard DPRK as being a state party to the NPT because it has not followed the correct treaty withdrawal procedures.
Sudan: Armed Conflict
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Government policy is on further UN Security Council action against the government of Sudan in relation to any further refusal to comply with the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for (a) Mr. Ahmad Harun and (b) Mr. Ali Kushay; and if he will make a statement. [210480]
David Miliband: The UK sponsored UN Security Council Resolution 1593 of March 2005 referred the human rights situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court (ICC). We have continued to press the Government of Sudan, at all levels, to comply with the ICC requirements, including during the UN Security Council's visit to Sudan this month. My noble Friend Lord Malloch-Brown and I raised the need for Sudan to comply with the ICC in our meetings with Sudanese Foreign Minister Deng Alor on 28 April. We have also raised Sudanese compliance with the ICC with partners, including in the UN Security Council, who have influence over the Government of Sudan.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with members of the Arab League countries on the compliance of the government of Sudan with arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for Mr. Ahmad Harun and Mr. Ali Kushayb; and if he will make a statement. [210496]
David Miliband: Ministers and officials have had a number of discussions with members of the Arab League to press them to use their influence with the Government of Sudan on a range of issues, including co-operation with the International Criminal Court.
Sudan: Arms Trade
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to secure a UN arms embargo on Sudan; and if he will make a statement. [212039]
David Miliband: The UK asked the UN Sanctions Committee of 6 November 2007 to extend its arms embargo on Darfur to all of Sudan, but not all UN Security Council members agreed. Since then, we have raised the issue whenever Sudan has been discussed in the UN Security Council and elsewhere, including at the UN/African Union led talks on Darfur in Geneva on 5 June.
On 12 June 2008 the UK reiterated in the UN Security Council the need for all parties to adhere to the arms embargo on Darfur. We will continue to press for an extension of the arms embargo.
The EU continues to operate an arms embargo on the whole of Sudan.
Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to promote measures to ensure that crimes committed against peacekeepers and aid workers in Darfur are investigated and prosecuted where appropriate; and if he will make a statement. [210479]
David Miliband: The UN-African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in Darfur is there to protect civilians and aid workers. We will continue to support the UN and AU to ensure that crimes committed against peacekeepers and aid workers in Darfur do not go unpunished. We have made clear to all parties to the conflict that there can be no impunity for crimes committed in Darfur.
Zimbabwe: Elections
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the role of the Zimbabwean military on the re-run of the presidential elections expected on 27th June; and if he will make a statement. [210529]
David Miliband: We are increasingly concerned about the role of the Zimbabwean military and other security forces in perpetrating violence in the run up to the presidential election on 27 June. For it to be credible, the election needs to take place in a free and fair environment. That is why we are pressing for the deployment of international observers as soon as possible.
Home Department
Animal Experiments: EC Law
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her Department's role and responsibilities are for implementation of the provisions of European Council Directive 76/768 in respect of cosmetic experimentation on animals. [211598]
Meg Hillier: Implementation of the provisions of European Council Directive 76/768 is the responsibility of the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. In 1997-98 the Government secured a voluntary ban on the testing of cosmetic finished products and ingredients on animals in the United Kingdom. The ban on the testing of finished products was made compulsory on 11 September 2004, with the implementation of the Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 2004.
Community Relations
Mr. Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department where the police officers and other staff announced on 16 April 2008 as being assigned to work on preventing violent extremism, will be deployed. [201880]
Mr. McNulty: Following the announcement by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary of more than 300 additional Prevent posts over the next three years, Sir Norman Bettison of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Terrorism and Allied Matters) wrote to all the chief constables in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on 2 May. He set out the proposed distribution and rationale behind funding for the prevention of violent extremism at national, regional and local levels. Priority areas are those localities where there is significant threat of people becoming or supporting terrorists. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary publicly announced the allocation of new posts as part of the launch of the Prevent strategy on 2 June.
In all, 24 forces will benefit from additional resources in 2008-09 and the allocation will be reviewed in November for 2009-10.
Derbyshire
Nottinghamshire
Bedfordshire
Hertfordshire
Humberside
West Yorkshire
Greater Manchester Police
Merseyside
Sussex
Hampshire
Staffordshire
South Wales
Leicestershire
Northamptonshire
Cambridgeshire
Cleveland
Northumbria
South Yorkshire
Lancashire
Surrey
Thames Valley
Avon and Somerset
West Midlands
Metropolitan Police Service
With regard to the deployment of resources, the chief officer of a police force is responsible for operational management. The Home Office is responsible for the provision of funding.
Community Relations: Extremism
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which stakeholders will be consulted when deciding which community projects will be given funding from the pledged £12.5 million to help prevent extremism in communities; what the process will be to decide which organisations and projects will be given funding; how the effects of the funding will be assessed; and who will monitor those effects. [210225]
Mr. McNulty: The Home Office has carried out a cross-Government consultation with all of its key stakeholders including Ministry of Justice and Communities and Local Government. To identify which organisations and projects will be given funding we identified a number of existing organisations who have the relevant skills and knowledge we were looking for. All approved projects are fully evaluated and are also independently reviewed to ensure they have delivered what they set out to do and have provided value for money.
Crimes Against Humanity
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on visits to the UK by individuals under indictment by European or international courts for violations of humanitarian law, (a) as part of official delegations and (b) as individuals. [212819]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 20 June 2008]: The Government's policy is that the UK should not be a safe haven for individuals who have been involved in, or suspected of involvement in, war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide.
If individuals indicted by European or international courts applied to visit the UK, we would seek either to refuse them entry in line with that policy, or to comply with any requirements or obligations to assist with their surrender to the courts.
Unionist Parties: Meetings
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will place in the Library a list of meetings she attended with hon. and right hon. Members from the (a) Democratic Unionist Party and (b) Ulster Unionist Party, including those meetings at which no civil servants were present, between 31 March 2008 and 11 June 2008; and if she will make a statement. [212123]
Mr. McNulty [holding answer 18 June 2008]: Between 31 March and 11 June 2008, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary met representatives from the DUP on the following occasions:
8 May
20 May
3 June
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary did not meet representatives from the UUP.
I will place this list in the Library.
Departmental Records: Lost Property
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to find the case files relating to the constituent of the hon. Member for Vauxhall, reference J1107380. [212026]
Mr. Byrne: The UK Border Agency wrote to my hon. Friend on 18 June 2008.
Deportation: China
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many Chinese nationals convicted of criminal offences in the United Kingdom were deported in each of the last six years; [211834]
(2) what recent discussions she has had with the Chinese Government on accepting Chinese nationals intended for deportation from the United Kingdom who have been convicted of criminal offences in the UK. [211835]
Mr. Byrne: The information requested can be obtained only through the detailed examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost. The chief executive of the UK Border Agency has regularly updated the Home Affairs Committee with all of the most robust and accurate information available.
She advised the Committee in her letter of 17 December 2007 that through ongoing negotiations with foreign governments the UK has now established safe routes and re-documentation arrangements with a significant number of countries and that this is aiding our ability to return prisoners and other people at an improving pace. In particular we have signed a returns agreement with China and we are working ever more closely with governments around the world to facilitate removals.
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