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7 July 2008 : Column 1339W—continued
Morning Star
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many copies of the Morning Star publication his Department and each of its agencies subscribes to each week; and at what cost. [215661]
Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publications Purchasing Section has no record of any subscription to the Morning Star either in London or overseas.
Pakistan: Terrorism
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from the Pakistani authorities of the presence of British converts to Islam in areas of Peshawar province associated with militancy. [215432]
Dr. Howells: The threat from violent extremism in the North-West Frontier province of Pakistan has grown, despite more than 800 members of the Pakistani security forces having lost their lives in the struggle to maintain security. We are committed to helping the Government of Pakistan tackle this threat and have deepened our counter-terrorism co-operation accordingly.
We would not be able to comment on any personal information received about British nationals in Peshawar in accordance with our data protection obligations. We do, however, maintain close co-operation with the Pakistani authorities concerning the threat from violent extremism.
Palestinians: Overseas Students
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of Palestinian students with places to study in the UK who have been unable to obtain permission to leave Gaza in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [215287]
David Miliband:
We are aware of nine students who have won places in British universities but cannot leave Gaza due to exit permit problems. The Permanent Under-Secretary of the Foreign Commonwealth Office,
Sir Peter Ricketts, raised this issue with the Israeli ambassador on 20 June and my hon. Friend the Minister for the Middle East (Dr. Howells) raised it with Israeli Diaspora Minister Isaac Herzog recently. As this issue also affects a number of other EU member states, we have also made representations jointly to the Israeli authorities through the European Commission.
Palestinians: Police
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution the Government have made to the EU Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories; and if he will make a statement. [215243]
David Miliband: The UK is a strong supporter of the EU’s civil police training mission. The UK has provided £1.2 million for civil police development this year. With our support, the EU Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories has refurbished Jericho police training centre; completed two women’s police courses; begun to roll out public order training to 800 police; and delivered non-lethal equipment such as helmets. The UK is engaged in supporting the development of Palestinian security. At the Berlin conference on 24 June, the UK committed £2.7 million in 2008 and £4.5 million over the next three years to help these efforts.
South Africa: Crimes of Violence
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the South African Government on instances of violence against foreigners in that country; and if he will make a statement. [214227]
Meg Munn: The Government, through our high commission in Pretoria, have shared our concerns about this violence with the South African authorities. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development condemned the violence on 5 June in a speech in South Africa during which he announced £500,000 funding for assistance to migrants in temporary shelters affected by the recent violence.
Sudan: Internally Displaced Persons
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received reports on progress towards the establishment of women’s desks and community policing programmes in internally displaced persons’ camps in Darfur. [213766]
Meg Munn: The UN estimates that around 50 per cent. of the planned women’s desks have now been established. 66 community policing centres are operational and the UN hope that a further 10 will be upgraded or constructed by the end of the year.
Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr. Drew:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of UNAMID’s proposed 6,600 police officers have commenced operations in Darfur; and what assessment he has made of (a) the Police Commissioner’s progress towards achieving a 24-hour patrolling schedule in internally displaced
persons’ camps in Darfur and (b) UNAMID’s capacity to provide firewood, crop and other patrols outside internally displaced persons’ camps in Darfur. [213764]
Meg Munn: As of 23 June, 1,680 police officers have deployed to Darfur. There is currently only one fully formed police unit (FPU) made up of 144 officers from Bangladesh. Further FPUs are needed before 24-hour patrols can begin in internally displaced persons’ camps in Darfur.
The UN-African Union Mission in Darfur’s capacity to provide firewood, crop and other patrols outside internally displaced persons’ camps in Darfur has increased. On 22 June alone, there were 18 confidence building patrols, four escorts, and 21 villages patrolled.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the radio and satellite communications equipment provision of UNAMID units. [213765]
Meg Munn: The new communication network (Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT)) is still being deployed. We understand from the UN that only four locations—Shangil Tobaya, Sarif Umra, Sortoni and Mellit—are now without VSAT, but they have microwave links and so can communicate.
The Friends of the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur forum in New York is assisting in the training and equipping of African troop contributing countries, including with communications equipment; the UK is supporting this effort by providing £4 million.
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the number of refugee camps in Darfur where the UN-AU hybrid force does not have a presence; and if he will make a statement. [214147]
Meg Munn: There are about 81 internally displaced persons camps in Darfur. We understand that the UN-African Union joint peacekeeping mission currently visits about 66 camps and this figure is likely to rise as the mission deploys in full.
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the Government of Sudan’s compliance with the Status of Forces Agreement for the UN-AU hybrid force in Darfur; and if he will make a statement. [214148]
Meg Munn: We understand that the Government of Sudan have largely complied with the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) signed between the UN, the African Union (AU) and the Government of Sudan on 9 February, which provides a legal framework for the UN-AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). However, UNAMID officials have raised concerns about intermittent restrictions on UNAMID’s freedom of movement imposed by the Government of Sudan on security grounds and about local Government of Sudan officials failing to comply with SOFA provisions. In ministerial and official contacts with the Government of Sudan, we have pressed them to co-operate with UNAMID, including through full compliance with the SOFA.
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to ensure that the Government of Sudan comply with the provisions of the Abyei Protocol. [214170]
Meg Munn: The two parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the National Congress Party and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, signed a “Road Map for the Return of internally displaced persons and Implementation of Abyei Protocol” on 8 June. We are providing advice on arbitration and stand ready to provide further support to both parties to implement the road map.
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government support proposals for a permanent UN military and civilian presence in the Abyei region of Sudan. [214199]
Meg Munn: The remit of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) and the UN agencies in Abyei covers military and security issues, for example support to the new Joint Integrated Unit, and civilian affairs such as reconstruction and development.
The National Congress Party and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army agreed a road map on 8 June to resolve their differences over Abyei. The UK is working closely with the UN and other partners to support the parties in successfully implementing the road map. We secured a strengthened mandate for UNMIS in UN Security Council Resolution 1812, which calls on the parties to allow UNMIS unrestricted access and operations in Abyei.
We will support the UN presence in Abyei as long as they are mandated to operate there and have the support of the parties.
Terrorism: Victim Support Schemes
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how much was paid by his Department to British citizens under the Aftercare Plan in each year since 2004; [208801]
(2) how many British citizens received help from his Department's Aftercare Plan in each year since 2004; [208802]
(3) what the (a) original budget and (b) actual financial out-turn was for his Department's Aftercare Plan in each year since 2004; [208803]
(4) what his Department's working estimate is of the cost of the Exceptional Measures for Victims of Terrorist Incidents Overseas scheme in (a) the 2008-09 financial year and (b) each of the next three financial years. [208805]
Meg Munn [holding answer 5 June 2008]: We did not maintain central records for the provision of financial assistance by our posts within the Aftercare Plan. Reviewing individual case records to determine this information would incur disproportionate cost.
Given the indiscriminate nature of terrorism, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office cannot determine in advance when, or how many people might be affected,
or what level of support might be required following a terrorist event. For this reason, we do not maintain a working estimate of likely costs. Finance is provided from a range of different budgets appropriate to the identified needs in particular circumstances.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what research and analysis his Department carried out into the availability from commercial insurance companies of insurance against acts of terrorism before his decision to replace the Aftercare Plan with exceptional assistance measures; and if he will make a statement. [208804]
Meg Munn [holding answer 5 June 2008]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has regular discussions on the availability and scope of travel cover with the insurance industry through the Association of British Insurers.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK citizens have been the victim of terrorist incidents overseas in each of the last seven years. [209380]
David Miliband: Since 2001, 190 British nationals have been killed and 156 injured because of terrorist actions overseas. These figures include both British and British dual-nationals. They do not include British nationals killed or injured while serving in the armed forces. These figures identify only those cases where victims have requested assistance, from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and we have linked them to a terrorist incident.
The FCO does not hold records by year relating to the number of British nationals killed or injured overseas as a result of terrorist action. Reviewing individual case records to determine this information would incur disproportionate cost.
Tony Blair
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the right hon. Tony Blair has performed any official activities for his Department since 27 June 2007 to which fees and expenses were attached. [215149]
Dr. Howells: The right hon. Tony Blair has not performed any official activities on to which fees and expenses were attached to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office since 27 June 2007.
Wines
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) average cost of wine, (b) cost and name of the most expensive wine bottle and (c) cost and name of the most expensive spirit bought for the Government wine cellar was in the last 12 months. [215046]
Meg Munn:
Between June 2007 and May 2008 the average cost of wine purchased for the Government wine cellar was £15.28 per bottle. The most expensive
wine purchased during this period was a red Bordeaux wine, Vieux Chateau Certan 2004. The most expensive spirit purchased was Johnny Walker Black Label whisky.
The costs for individual items of stock cannot be disclosed because of the commercially sensitive relationships with Government Hospitality's suppliers. Releasing these prices into the public domain may damage Government Hospitality's ability to achieve good value for money.
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library an inventory of the stock in the Government wine cellar. [215140]
Meg Munn: In order to maintain the effective management of the Government wine cellar and to protect commercial interests of Government Hospitality and its suppliers, it will not be possible to place the wine stock list in the Library of the House.
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent estimate is of the market value of the Government wine cellar. [215155]
Meg Munn: The most recent estimate placed the market value of the cellar at approximately £2.4 million.
Wood
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how much timber and how many timber products were procured by his Department in each of the last five years; and at what cost; [213737]
(2) how much timber and how many timber products were procured by his Department originating from independently verified legal and sustainable sources or from a licensed FLEGT partner in each of the last five years; and at what cost. [213738]
Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) requires its staff and contractors to procure timber from legal or sustainable sources in line with the requirements of Government timber procurement policy. From April 2009, in line with Government policy, the FCO will only procure timber which is legal and sustainable or timber licensed under the EU's Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade initiative, for use on its estate in the UK or in those European locations covered by a facilities management contract expected to come into effect in December. In all other countries the FCO will continue to source timber from legal and, where possible, sustainable sources.
I regret that it is not possible to supply information on the amount and cost of timber and timber products incurred in each of the last five years without incurring disproportionate cost.
Zimbabwe: Elections
Mr. Hague:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from (a) South African Development Community member states, (b) the Pan-African Parliament
and (c) other organisations on the number of election monitors (i) required and (ii) likely to be in place for the forthcoming elections in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [213372]
David Miliband: The Southern African Development Community, the Pan African Parliament and the African Union all sent election observers to Zimbabwe. Despite Morgan Tsvangirai withdrawing from the second round it was important that they remained in country to witness the conditions, including the high levels of violence and intimidation.
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