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23 Oct 2008 : Column 527W—continued
Republic of Moldova
Romania
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Sao Tome & Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Swaziland
Tajikistan
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tokelau
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
UR Tanzania
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Viet Nam
Wallis and Futuna
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Source:
World Health Organization. Global Tuberculosis Control: Surveillance, Planning, Financing. WHO Report 2008. Geneva, WHO/HTM/TB/2008.393. www.who.int/tb/publications/global_report/
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rate of tuberculosis infection was among children under 11 years of age in each of the last five years. [228989]
Dawn Primarolo: The available information is in the following table.
| Number of cases aged 0-10 years | Rate of TB per 100,000 population | |
| Notes: 1. The data provided are for England only. 2. They are for children aged 0-10 years inclusive. 3. Validated data for 2007 are not yet available. Source: Health Protection Agency Enhanced Tuberculosis Surveillance (ETS) system. Mid-year population estimates were compiled from Office of National Statistics (ONS) data. | ||
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of (a) the number of children who will be vaccinated under the revised guidelines for the national BCG vaccination programme and (b) the cost of the revised programme. [228990]
Dawn Primarolo: There were nearly 220,000 Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccinations in 2007-08 (NHS Immunisation Statistics, England 2007-08).
The cost of administering the programme is included in primary care trusts' overall budget and cannot be separated out.
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the reasons are for moving to a policy of selective rather than universal vaccination of children against tuberculosis. [229725]
Dawn Primarolo: The Department moved to a selective policy following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
Having reviewed all available scientific and epidemiological evidence, the JCVI recommended from September 2005 that a targeted approach to vaccination should be introduced to replace the national schools Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) programme.
The key reasons behind this decision were:
the primary role of the BCG vaccination is to protect individuals at high risk of exposure to tuberculosis (TB);
since the introduction of the schools based BGC programme the epidemiology of TB has changed from a disease of the general population in the 1950s to one of predominately high-risk groups;
targeted BCG vaccination means that the majority of children at high risk of TB exposure will now be vaccinated earlier in life than under the previous policy;
the BCG is most effective at preventing severe forms of TB in infants and young children; and
protection decreases with time but repeated vaccination does not appear to offer any additional protection.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Bangladesh: Religious Freedom
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has with the government of Bangladesh on outbreaks of violence against Christians and other religious minorities. [227644]
Bill Rammell: We are not aware of any recent major outbreaks of violence against Christians or other religious minorities in Bangladesh. However, we continue to monitor the situation closely. The UK condemns the persecution of individuals or groups because of their faith or belief. We take very seriously issues of discrimination on grounds of religion and press for adherence to the principles of religious freedoms enshrined in the UN Charter and international conventions.
Burma: Arms Trade
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of India on arms sales to the Government of Burma. [228185]
Bill Rammell: The matter was raised with the Indian Government last year when we became aware that India had sold arms to Burma. If further sales come to our attention, we will again raise our concerns. The EU has an arms embargo against Burma and calls on all countries to consider carefully whether arms which are used against civilians should be sold to Burma.
We continue to raise the need for political change in Burma with the Indian Government at the highest levels. We hope that, as the world’s largest democracy, India will use the influence that it has on the Burmese regime to encourage the start of an inclusive political process leading to genuine democracy and respect for human rights.
Burma: Human Rights
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Burma about the incidence of human rights abuses in that country since 22nd July 2008. [228213]
Bill Rammell: As part of the EU Common Position, we do not engage at ministerial level with the regime in Burma. Our ambassador in Rangoon has met Burmese officials on a number of occasions since 22 July to raise our concerns about the human rights situation in the country. Recent exchanges have focused on prisoner welfare, the release of political prisoners and the need for a genuinely inclusive political process. The ambassador also discussed specific abuses inflicted on Burma’s ethnic groups with Professor Gambari during the UN envoy’s visit in August.
Burma: Overseas Aid
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his ASEAN counterparts on the supply of military police and security equipment to the Government of Burma. [228215]
Bill Rammell: We are aware of reports that the Government of Burma has purchased military and security equipment from some Association of South-East Asia Nations (ASEAN) countries. Burma is subject to an EU arms embargo and we encourage all countries, including members of ASEAN, to observe responsible arms trade policies towards Burma and other countries whose activities may be a cause for concern.
We regularly urge ASEAN countries to do all they can to promote respect for human rights and a genuine transition to democracy in Burma. Most recently, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed these issues with the Foreign Ministers of Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia, and the Secretary-General of ASEAN during a meeting with the UN Secretary-General on 27 September in New York.
Burma: Political Prisoners
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the number of political prisoners in Burma. [228212]
Bill Rammell: In his report to the UN General Assembly of 5 September 2008, the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Burma stated that
“according to reliable sources, some 2,000 political and civil activists were still imprisoned in Myanmar”.
This is consistent with other reports the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received. We continue to raise the need for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, in all our contacts with the Burmese regime and those countries with influence over it.
Burma: Politics and Government
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Chinese Government on the conduct of the Government of Burma. [228211]
Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister raised our deep concern about the situation in Burma with Chinese Premier Wen on 24 September, during UN General Assembly Ministerial week in New York. He also raised Burma with both Premier Wen and President Hu in Beijing in August. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed Burma with Foreign Minister Yang on 12 June, and will raise the issue again when they meet at the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit in Beijing later this month. Officials maintain an active dialogue with the Chinese Government through our embassies in Beijing and Rangoon, and with the Chinese embassy in London. In all these discussions, we have consistently encouraged China to bring its influence to bear on the Burmese regime to respond to the demands of the UN Security Council and broader international community.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Burma on the outcome of the most recent visit to Burma by the UN special rapporteur. [228218]
Bill Rammell:
The UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Burma visited the country between 3 and 7 August and delivered a report of his observations to the UN General Assembly on 5 September 2008. Ministerial contact with the regime is restricted by the EU Common Position on Burma. However, our ambassador in Rangoon regularly raises our deep concern about the human rights situation, including the issues highlighted in the
Special Rapporteur’s report. We also support the work of the Special Rapporteur through the Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly.
Burma: UN Resolutions
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the pursuit of a United Nations Security Council resolution on Burma since 22 July 2008. [228214]
Bill Rammell: In the past 12 months we have helped to secure unprecedented UN Security Council action on Burma in the form of two strongly-worded presidential statements demanding: the release of political prisoners; the start of credible talks between the regime, opposition and ethnic groups; and full co-operation with the UN. We continue to work with EU partners to keep Burma on the UN Security Council agenda. A UN Security Council Resolution in the short term is not feasible as some members, including permanent members, will block action on this front. We have not discussed this specific issue with EU partners since 22 July 2008.
Colombia: Arms Trade
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects of securing an EU embargo on arms supplies to Colombia. [228203]
Gillian Merron: There has been no discussion among EU partners about an EU arms embargo on Colombia. All export licence applications to export arms to Colombia are rigorously assessed on a case by case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria.
Diplomatic Service: Passports
Mr. Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many valid UK diplomatic passports are held by (a) serving accredited UK diplomats, (b) other Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials, (c) serving military personnel, (d) officials of other Government Departments, (e) Ministers of the Crown, (f) hon. Members who do not hold ministerial office and (g) others. [223409]
Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not keep separate records of diplomatic and official passports issued, nor does it break down how many passports are issued to staff and dependants who are not members of the Diplomatic Service.
A manual check of all diplomatic and official passport application forms would be required to provide this information. This would incur a disproportionate cost.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office practice is to issue diplomatic passports to officers who are to serve as diplomatic agents abroad. Official passports are issued to those who are to serve as administrative or technical staff. The guidelines under which they are to be issued are rigorously defined to accredited personnel and dependants on overseas postings. Diplomatic and official passports are issued to staff other than members of the Diplomatic Service, given that it is not only diplomatic staff that go on overseas postings.
Ethiopia: Arms Trade
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government’s policy is on the sale of arms to Ethiopia. [228184]
Gillian Merron: The Minister for Africa, the Middle East and Asia announced the Government’s policy on export licensing in a PQ answer on 26 October 2000, Official Report, columns 199-203W.
In summary, all relevant export licence applications, including those of arms to Ethiopia, are rigorously assessed on a case by case basis against the consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, taking account of the circumstances prevailing at the time and other relevant announced Government policies.
An export licence will not be issued if the arguments for doing so are outweighed by the need to comply with the UK’s international obligations and commitments, by concern that the goods might be used for internal repression or international aggression, by the risks to regional stability or by other considerations as described in the EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria.
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