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27 Oct 2008 : Column 767W—continued
Teenage Pregnancy: Disadvantaged
Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of women under 18 years old living in (a) local authorities with a benefit claim rate of 10 per cent. or above and (b) in the 10 local authorities with the lowest employment rate were recorded as becoming pregnant in each year since 1997. [228726]
Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl, dated October 2008:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking what proportion of women under 18 years old living in (a) local authorities with a benefit claim rate of 10 per cent or above and (b) in the 10 local authorities with the lowest employment rate were recorded as becoming pregnant in each year since 1997. I am replying in her absence. (228726)
The information requested is not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Unemployment: Young People
Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the rate of youth unemployment was in each (a) constituency, (b) local authority and (c) region in each of the last 10 years. [228728]
Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated October 2008:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question what the rate of youth unemployment was in each (a) Constituency, (b) Local Authority and (c) Region in each of the last 10 years. (228728)
Information in the form requested is not readily available and could only be compiled at disproportionate cost.
It is possible to access information on unemployment within age groups and by constituency, local authority and region from the Office for National Statistics NomisĀ(r) website: www.nomisweb.co.uk. This would involve creating a timeseries by combining estimates from the Annual Population Survey, Local Area Labour Force Survey and Labour Force Survey—Annual. However, much of the data that could be obtained regarding small area youth unemployment would be suppressed on the grounds of disclosure or quality.
Alternatively, counts of people aged 16-24 years claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) are also available at constituency, local authority and regional level from NomisĀ(r).
Please note the JSA data available on the NomisĀ(r) Website differ from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) definition of unemployment.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Chad: Armed Conflict
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of Sudan on its alleged support of armed groups in Chad; and if he will make a statement. [226079]
Gillian Merron: We have repeatedly called on the governments of Sudan and Chad to adhere to the Dakar Agreement of 13 March, which committed both governments to stop supporting each other's armed groups. The UK is an observer to the Dakar Contact Group, which monitors the implementation of this agreement.
Departmental Location
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what savings have been identified by his Department as a result of co-location of offices with the Department for International Development, broken down by country. [225599]
David Miliband: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office management information system does not provide the detail required to identify cost savings as a result of our co-location with the Department for International Development. To provide this information would incur disproportionate cost.
Foreign Policy: Human Rights
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will amend his Department's strategic priorities and policy goals to include the advancement of human rights and freedom of speech. [226227]
Gillian Merron: Human rights are at the heart of all the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) departmental strategic objectives. The Foreign Affairs Committee recommended in April 2007 that FCO work in support of human rights be fully integrated into the Government's pursuit of all its strategic foreign policy priorities. We therefore ensured that human rights were central to our new strategic framework which has been in place since April 2008. We remain committed to integrating human rights more effectively into all our work, whether on countering terrorism, preventing and resolving conflict, promoting solutions to climate change, developing more effective international institutions or supporting British nationals abroad.
Human rights are central to achieving these strategic objectives. The FCO's latest Annual Human Rights Report shows how human rights will remain fully integrated in what we do, in London and through our network of posts around the world. A copy can be found at
India: Christianity
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the next round of the ad hoc EU-India human rights dialogue will take place; and whether the recent violence in Orissa state, India, will be on the agenda for discussion. [226083]
Bill Rammell: We understand that the EU presidency wrote to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in September expressing concern over the recent violence in Orissa and requesting that the issue be included on the agenda for the next EU-India Human Rights Dialogue, which is due to be held before the end of 2008.
India: Religious Freedom
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of temple desecration in Goa, India; what assessment he has made of the scale of the problem; and what assistance the Government is providing to the Indian Government to deal with the (a) causes and (b) consequences of the problem. [226263]
Bill Rammell: We were concerned to hear reports of temple desecration in Goa. The government of India has not requested assistance, but our high commission in New Delhi continues to monitor all issues relating to religious freedom in India. Our staff have regular meetings with the appropriate Indian authorities and highlight our concerns about incidents involving religious intolerance and persecution.
North Africa
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions he or officials from his Department have met representatives of the governments of (a) Sudan and (b) Libya since 1997. [225483]
Gillian Merron: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and his officials have met representatives of the Governments of Sudan regularly since 1997. Diplomatic relations between Libya and the UK were resumed in 1999. Since then UK officials have met regularly in Tripoli and London with the representatives of the Libyan Government.
The Foreign Secretary met Sudanese Vice President Taha on 27 September in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss Darfur and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between north and south Sudan.
The Foreign Secretary met the Libyan Minister for Foreign Affairs, Abdurrahman Shalgam, on 7 January.
In order to provide this information records would need to be collated from our various departments in London and posts overseas which would incur a disproportionate cost.
Pakistan: Crimes of Violence
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government has taken to assist Pakistan with reducing the incidence of racially-motivated murders in that country. [224997]
Bill Rammell: Sectarian violence is a serious problem in Pakistan. The recent murders of members of the Ahmadiyya community and the 6 October suicide attack in Bhakkar which killed 22 people are tragic examples. We support the Government of Pakistan in tackling such violence through a comprehensive strategy involving better security provision, development and improved governance, and we have stressed the importance to the Government of Pakistan of guaranteeing rights and political participation of all Pakistani citizens.
Peace Negotiations: Females
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in promoting the role of women in post-conflict negotiations and reconstruction. [228494]
Bill Rammell: Eight years after the adoption of UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1325, the resolution has had a positive impact on the inclusion of women in post-conflict negotiations and reconstruction. It has drawn international attention to the issue, it has resulted in greater inclusion of women in political dialogue in countries where the UN Peacebuilding Commission is operating, and mandates for UN peacekeeping missions now routinely request that the role of women is fully recognised. But we recognise that work must continue to ensure the systematic involvement of women at all stages of the conflict cycle. The adoption of UNSCR 1820 in June this year was a significant step forward in strengthening previous calls to address women’s under-representation. In September, the UN Security Council held an Open Debate on ‘mediation’ in conflict resolution reiterating this call and in October, the UN Security Council Open Debate will focus on the need to enhance the role of women in peace processes.
The UK is at the forefront of international efforts to ensure the comprehensive and effective implementation of UNSCR 1325. We were among the first countries to draw up a national Action Plan setting out action for Government personnel and Departments to implement UNSCR 1325 and have encouraged other countries to do the same. Several European countries have since developed their own action plans. We regularly review the plan in partnership with civil society. We are raising awareness of gender in conflict by ensuring references in all relevant UN Security Council resolutions and in the mandates of peacekeeping operations, and are promoting the role of women in conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peacebuilding through forums in a range of conflict affected countries.
The UN Peacebuilding Commission was established in 2005, to offer technical assistance to countries emerging from conflict and provide catalytic financial support for reconstruction efforts. The UK is a member of the Commission and has been instrumental in ensuring that UNSCRs 1325 and 1820 are mainstreamed through the Commission’s engagement with countries on its agenda.
Somalia: Armed Conflict
Mr. Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take to enhance stability in Somalia in order to facilitate the delivery of aid; and if he will make a statement. [225964]
Gillian Merron: The United Nations Security Council Presidential Statement of 4 September 2008 requested the Secretary-General: elaborate on his contingency plans for an international force in Somalia; asked that he report back to the Council in 60 days on options for the force; and asked that he approach potential contributors of financial resources, personnel and equipment. I await his report with interest.
Despite the difficult security situation, the Department for International Development has pledged over £20 million in new commitments in 2008, including £12 million to World Food Programme who are distributing over 15,000 metric tonnes of food aid a month.
Somalia: Human Rights
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of progress towards the establishment of independent human rights institutions in Somalia; and if he will make a statement. [226077]
Gillian Merron: The human rights situation in Somalia remains of serious concern. On-going violence and insecurity make it very difficult to gather and verify information, including on human rights. International human rights organisations are unable to operate in much of Somalia due to the security situation. We have no information that any new independent human rights institutions have been established in Somalia.
Somalia: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in securing the (a) financial resources, (b) personnel and (c) equipment for the international stabilisation force for Somalia; and if he will make a statement. [226072]
Gillian Merron: The UN Security Council Presidential Statement of 4 September 2008 requested the Secretary-General elaborate on his contingency plans for an international force in Somalia; asked that he report back to the Council in 60 days on options for the force; and asked that he approach potential contributors of financial resources, personnel and equipment. I await his report with interest.
Sri Lanka: Commonwealth
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed the situation in Sri Lanka with his Commonwealth counterparts; and if he will make a statement. [226085]
Bill Rammell: The situation in Sri Lanka is not currently on the Commonwealth's agenda. However, Ministers and officials have discussed the matter with individual Commonwealth countries and countries in the region.
Sri Lanka: International Assistance
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Sri Lanka on the evacuation of foreign aid workers and UN staff from the northern regions of the country; and if he will make a statement. [225878]
Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for International Development raised the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka with President Rajapakse on 26 September in New York. They stressed the need for a political solution to the conflict as well as the need to secure humanitarian space and to provide humanitarian relief in the north.
Sudan: Overseas Aid
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the procurement and transport of donor-provided equipment for Darfur; and if he will make a statement. [226090]
Gillian Merron: Several donors, including the UK, are equipping troops and police due to deploy with the UN-African Union Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). Procurement of UK-funded equipment for a Tanzanian infantry battalion is under way. We are in close contact with the UN and other donors to ensure nations contributing to UNAMID have the equipment they need, and we are pressing the UN to use airlift to move equipment rapidly into Darfur.
Sudan: Peace Negotiations
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of progress in the Arab League's mediation attempts between the Government of Sudan and the rebel forces; and when he last discussed the matter with his Arab League counterparts. [226076]
Gillian Merron: Qatar and the Arab League, with support from the African Union (AU), have proposed a Darfur peace conference, to which the Government of Sudan and Darfur rebel movements would be invited. On 14 September my noble Friend, the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, stated that we welcome all constructive initiatives towards peace in Darfur under the overall leadership of the UN-AU Chief Mediator, and hope that the Qatar Initiative can make a positive contribution to these efforts. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed this with the Secretary-General of the Arab League Amr Moussa in New York on 25 September.
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