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13 Nov 2008 : Column 1408W—continued
The FCO does not hold records of staff sickness absence before 2005; nor do we have access to the sickness absence records of non-departmental public bodies for which the FCO has responsibility.
Diplomatic Service: Manpower
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason the overseas security officer posts at diplomatic posts in (a) Beijing, (b) Cairo, (c) Moscow and (d) Hong Kong were contracted out in 2000; what the cost of the contracts let to cover each of these posts was; and if he will make a statement. [203482]
Gillian Merron: The contract for providing guards at diplomatic posts in Beijing, Cairo, Moscow and Hong Kong started in 2003. The cost of the contract, between financial years 2003-04 to 2007-08, is £4.09 million.
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the turnover of staff employed as overseas security officers under the Control Risks contract in each year since the contract was let; what the cost of this staff turnover to his Department has been; what discussions he has had with Control Risks on staff turnover issues; and if he will make a statement. [203486]
Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) no longer employs overseas security officers. The FCO contracts for the provision of an agreed level of service. The turnover of staff is, therefore, primarily a matter for the contracting company.
We have held regular contract review discussions with Control Risks, as part of our rigorous performance monitoring of the contract, at which turnover has featured.
Diplomatic Service: Recruitment
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests for advice or sharing of expertise concerning personnel recruitment in embassies, with particular reference to policy and management issues concerning the recruitment of locally employed staff, have been received from embassies in London and foreign services of EU partners in the last five years; what assistance or other response was given; and if he will make a statement. [224580]
David Miliband:
We do not hold records centrally of approaches by embassies in London and by foreign services of EU partners on personnel recruitment in our missions. However, we are committed to sharing
our own experience in these areas, and learning from others, and welcome this type of exchange with partners.
European Union Special Representatives
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who the European Union special representatives in post are. [214153]
Caroline Flint: Details of EU special representatives in post are published on the European Council website at:
Marc Otte was appointed EUSR for the Middle East peace process on 14 July 2003;
Erwan Fouéré was appointed EUSR for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on 17 October 2005;
Peter Semneby was appointed EUSR for the South Caucasus on 20 February 2006;
Pierre Morel was appointed EUSR for Central Asia on 5 October 2006;
Roeland van de Geer was appointed EUSR for the Great Lakes Region on 14 February 2007;
Kálmán Mizsei was appointed EUSR for Moldova on 15 February 2007;
Torben Brylle was appointed EU special representative (EUSR) for Sudan on 19 April 2007;
Miroslav Lajcák was appointed EUSR for Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 June 2007;
Koen Vervaeke was appointed EUSR to the African Union (AU) on 6 December 2007;
Pieter Feith was appointed EUSR in Kosovo on 4 February 2008;
Ettore Francesco Sequi was appointed EUSR for Afghanistan on 24 July 2008; and
Pierre Morel was also appointed EUSR for the crisis in Georgia on 25 September 2008.
Foreign Policy: Science
Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times he has met the Government Chief Scientific Adviser to discuss the effect of scientific developments on foreign policy. [220330]
David Miliband: I have met the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor John Beddington, once since he was appointed in 2008.
France: EU Presidency
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government’s policy is on initiatives to be promoted by the French Presidency of the Council of Ministers. [213172]
Caroline Flint:
The French presidency began on 1 July 2008 and ends on 31 December 2008. The presidency has had a full agenda on a wide range of issues which matter to EU citizens including climate change and migration. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office produces a Command Paper on each EU presidency every six months, and the Paper on the French presidency of the EU is currently in the Library of the House. It
may also be accessed via the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk The Government have worked very closely with the French Government following the successful UK-France summit in March of this year.
Gaza: Human Trafficking
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department, (c) officials in his Department, (d) the British Ambassador to Egypt and (e) officials in the British Embassy in Egypt have had with the Government of Egypt on the trafficking of (i) weapons and (ii) people into Gaza from Egypt via under-border tunnels; what response was received; what reports he has received on the number of tunnels between Gaza and Egypt that have been (A) discovered and (B) closed; and if he will make a statement. [214051]
Bill Rammell: The UK welcomes any appropriate action taken to reduce trafficking of weapons and people into Gaza. Earlier in the year, we pressed Egypt to act on smuggling. With the number of tunnels being discovered and closed constantly changing, we are unable to provide a definitive figure, but we continue to monitor the situation.
Immigration: EC Action
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials have had with their French counterparts concerning the French EU Presidency's programme for EU asylum and immigration policy; and if he will make a statement. [211272]
David Miliband: The UK has worked closely with France on its programme for EU asylum and immigration policy, the cornerstone of which has been the European pact on immigration and asylum. The pact was formally agreed by member states at the October European Council. We welcome the pact for the additional focus and momentum it brings to EU policy on migration and asylum. Officials and ministers met on a number of occasions to discuss the pact.
Intimidation
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2008, Official Report, column 763W, on intimidation, how many cases of bullying in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies were reported in each month of 2006. [189376]
Gillian Merron: The information requested is as follows:
(a) In the main Foreign and Commonwealth Office, three cases involving bullying were raised as internal grievances in March, June and August 2006. Of these, two were not upheld. One was partially upheld, meaning that the grievance would have had several elements to it, with evidence found to support some but not all of those elements.
(b) In the FCO Services Agency, there was one bullying allegation in January 2006 which resulted in a disciplinary penalty.
Iran: Politics and Government
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken by his Department to support pro-democracy student groups in Iran. [204369]
Bill Rammell: It is the longstanding policy of the UK, and the EU, to stand up for the internationally recognised principles to which so many Iranians aspire, including human rights, political freedoms and genuinely democratic, transparent and accountable government. We maintain contacts with a wide range of Iranians in many different fields (in and outside government) who work to support reform and the rule of law, including some connected to the Iranian student movement, which has historically been involved in the promotion of civil rights.
We are concerned by the growing pressure facing student activists this year, and the Iranian Government’s refusal to acknowledge the rights of student activist groups. Many have been arrested and imprisoned for taking part in activities in support of their rights, such as demonstrations on National University Students’ Day; and student publications are often targeted and closed down. In July five students were arrested in Mashhad for pursuing the cases of other detained students. The EU, with strong UK support, regularly raises concerns about human rights violations with the Iranian authorities. A recent EU demarche, delivered on 6 October, raised specific concerns about the increased pressure on Iranian students and the large number of arrests in recent months.
Lucinda Lavelle
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will respond to the letter of 25 September from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on Ms Lucinda Lavelle, transferred to his Department by the Prime Minister. [235592]
David Miliband: I responded to my right hon. Friend on 7 November.
Ministers: Official Residences
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the television licence fee in his official Ministerial residence is paid for from public funds. [233244]
Gillian Merron: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary does not have an official residence. However he does have use of Chevening House in Sevenoaks, Kent. The licence fee for the television there is paid for by the Chevening Trust who administer the estate.
Montserrat: Immigration
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) illegal immigrants and (b) asylum seekers there are in Montserrat; who pays for their accommodation and support; and how their future status will be determined. [233159]
Gillian Merron: At present, we understand there are no illegal immigrants in Montserrat, and there are 19 persons who have claimed asylum—14 of whom are Sri Lankans, and five are Haitians. Working with the UK Government, the Government of Montserrat have interviewed and taken statements from each individual asylum seeker. At the same time, the Government of Montserrat are updating their immigration legislation to ensure its compliance with current international obligations, including the UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees 1951. The enactment of the updated immigration legislation is expected by the end of December 2008, after which a determination of the individual asylum claims will be both made and enforced.
In the meantime, the Government of Montserrat have provided accommodation, and cover the costs of electricity and water. All 17 adults have been granted temporary work permits, and use their earnings to cover their food, transport and other personal costs, which ensure that costs to local government are minimised. The one school age child attends primary school free of charge.
National Security
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role he envisages for the Commonwealth in helping to deliver the National Security Strategy. [212407]
Bill Rammell: The Commonwealth is a useful forum for sharing ideas and experience. It does valuable work on promoting the rule of law and respect and understanding among all faiths and communities. It also works on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism. As such it has a potential role to play in helping to deliver the National Security Strategy, though primarily in support of the work of other international institutions. Member country officials will meet soon to consider the role the Commonwealth might play in this area in future.
Olympic Games
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department plan to attend the Beijing Olympic Games; to what purpose in each case; and what estimate he has made of the cost. [212105]
Bill Rammell: Lord Jones, in his role as Minister for Trade and Investment, was in Beijing from 21 to 26 August to promote British business capability, investment and partnership opportunities in general as well as specific business opportunities arising from hosting an Olympic Games. Lord Jones supported several key business events and initiatives and a delegation of UK businesses.
Sir Alan Collins was in Beijing from 21 to 27 August. Sir Alan is employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and his costs are being met by the FCO. His current role is Director General Trade and Investment USA. As high commissioner in Singapore, he was a member of the London 2012 Delegation that won the Games for the UK in July 2005 and he is Champion for the International Business Legacy from the London 2012 Games.
Costs were limited and consisted of flights and hotels for the delegation for the period of their stay.
Otherwise the British embassy Beijing and the Consulate-General Hong Kong provided a full service for tourists, Team GB and Government visitors including my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.
Rendition
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss the issue of rendition detainees with the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. [196090]
David Miliband: On 5 March Lord Malloch-Brown spoke to Mr. Nowak, the UN Special Rapporteur on torture, in the margins of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Lord Malloch-Brown encouraged Mr. Nowak to provide the Government with any evidence he may have regarding allegations that detainees may have been held on Diego Garcia between 2002 and 2003. Officials speak regularly to Mr. Nowak and his team on a range of issues.
Russia: British Nationality
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with his Russian counterpart access to information on UK nationals formerly held in Soviet Union labour camps contained within the archives of the former KGB. [223919]
Caroline Flint: On 21 September, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office formally requested that the Russian government provide support and assistance to any individuals and families in the United Kingdom who are seeking access to information held in Russian government archives about relatives formerly detained in Soviet Union labour camps.
Seychelles
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens (a) visited and (b) emigrated to the Seychelles in each year since 2000. [205059]
Gillian Merron: The National Statistics Bureau (NSB) of the Republic of Seychelles estimates the number of visitors to Seychelles in the period 2000-2008 as follows:
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