| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
25 Nov 2008 : Column 1194W—continued
Australia: Foreign Relations
Mr. Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make plans to visit Australia to discuss UK-Australia relations. [235984]
Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary does not currently have plans to visit Australia. He maintains a regular and productive dialogue with his Australian counterpart on a range of key bilateral and multilateral issues. They have regular conversations over the telephone and have met on several occasions this year, including during Stephen Smith's visit to London in June.
The most recent visit to Australia by a Foreign Office Minister was in May by my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Meg Munn), the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, when she discussed UK-Australia relations with a range of Australian Ministers, including their Deputy Prime Minister.
British Council: Finance
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the efficiency of the financial controls on the British Council; and if he will make a statement. [230859]
Caroline Flint: The British Council has a strong culture of financial control with well established fraud management policies and procedures. These are regularly reviewed by the organisation's dedicated internal audit function and annually reviewed by the National Audit Office. If fraud is discovered, it is the British Council's normal practice to immediately review existing controls and reflect lessons learnt in operating practices where necessary. In addition, the British Council is implementing a new global finance and business system which will further strengthen the financial control environment through better segregation of duties, more automated financial controls and greater visibility centrally of the effective operation of financial controls.
Although the Foreign and Commonwealth Office cannot guarantee that frauds will not take place at the Council, we are satisfied that the Council has put in place cost-effective procedures that give reasonable assurance that they will not be defrauded.
Colombia: Armed Forces
Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of the Colombian security forces received training funded, in whole or in part, by the UK in each of the last five years. [235942]
Gillian Merron: UK Government records show that the following number of Colombian Security personnel received direct UK training in the following fiscal years:
| Number | |
This UK bilateral training is focused on human rights and humanitarian demining. As much of this engagement is training the trainers, further personnel will have benefited. Furthermore, the UK is also supporting projects being
implemented by a number of United Nations agencies to train thousands more men and women in human rights.
Some Colombian military personnel have also received training in the field of counter narcotics. We do not disclose the nature of this engagement, as to do so would endanger the security of the UK and Colombian personnel involved, and undermine the effectiveness of that work.
Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which personnel of the 2nd Division of the Colombian Army commanded by Brigadier General Cortes Franco received training funded, in whole or in part, by the UK in the last five years. [235943]
Gillian Merron: The UK does not provide training to whole units such as the 2nd Division of the Colombian Army. It is not possible to identify individuals trained by the UK, or by UN programmes part-funded by the UK, who have gone on to serve in particular division of the Colombian armed forces.
We do not disclose the names or other details of people we have trained as to do so would endanger the security of the UK and Colombian personnel involved.
Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of the Colombian armed forces received training from the British Army in each year since 2000. [235990]
Gillian Merron: UK Government records show that the following number of Colombian Security personnel received direct UK training in the following fiscal years:
| Number | |
This UK bilateral training is focused on human rights and humanitarian demining. As much of this engagement is training the trainers, further personnel will have benefited. Furthermore, the UK is also supporting projects being implemented by a number of United Nations agencies to train thousands more men and women in human rights.
Some Colombian military personnel have also received training in the field of counter narcotics. We do not disclose the nature of this engagement, as to do so would endanger the security of the UK and Colombian personnel involved, and undermine the effectiveness of that work.
Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 November 2008, Official Report, column 777W, on Colombia: armed forces, what training his Department has provided to individual soldiers attached to the 15th Mobile Brigade. [235991]
Gillian Merron: Officials from this Department are not involved in the training of any members of the Colombian armed forces.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, alongside the Ministry of Defence and Department for International Development, supports humanitarian demining and human rights training, either directly or through partners including the United Nations, to personnel drawn from across the Colombian armed forces and police. As well as bilateral projects, we have projects running through several UN agencies including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and the UN Office of Drugs and Crime, that will provide training to more than two thousand serving men and women.
Ms Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the dismissal of Colombian Major José Simon Baquero Ramos and the allegations that men under his command committed extra-judicial executions of Columbian civilians; and if he will make a statement. [237048]
Gillian Merron: We have received no specific reports concerning any of the individuals dismissed following the recent allegations of extra-judicial killings and criminal conspiracy, including Major José Simon Baquero Ramos. In my public statement on 30 October I welcomed the robust action taken by the Government to dismiss the 27 Colombian army officials, and its assurances that all those responsible for these and other extra-judicial killings will stand trial in front of civilian courts.
Colombia: Human Rights
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the Colombian army’s alleged involvement in extra-judicial killings of civilians; and if he will make a statement. [233346]
Gillian Merron: We are aware of abuses recently attributed to the Colombian armed forces, and of the decision taken by the Colombian Government to dismiss a number of its senior officers as a result of these and other reported crimes. I issued the following public statement on the issue on 30 October:
“The Colombian Government’s decision to dismiss a number of army officers as a result of recent extra-judicial killings and cases of criminal conspiracy is important. It is vital, not least for Colombia’s international reputation, that the Government and Courts continue to show a determination to deal with human rights abuses committed by members of the armed forces, and that those convicted by the civilian justice system are punished appropriately.”
Colombia: Intelligence Services
Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2008, Official Report, column 629W, on Colombia: security services, what categories of information are held in his Department’s records of Colombian security force personnel who have received UK training in Colombia; and who is responsible for monitoring the human rights conduct of such personnel. [233651]
Gillian Merron: The British embassy in Bogota keeps a record of Colombian security force personnel who receive UK training, whether in counter-narcotics, human rights or humanitarian demining, in case information emerged to suggest that they subsequently become involved in human rights abuses. None has to date. Disclosing the details of the record held by the embassy could endanger the lives of those involved.
All UK-funded projects in Colombia are rigorously evaluated before funding is agreed; and carefully monitored while under way in terms of use of funds, achievement of objectives and outputs. We closely supervise the use of UK resources to ensure the highest operational, ethical and human rights standards are maintained by those with whom we work.
The monitoring of the human rights or other performance of individual Colombian military personnel is the responsibility of the Colombian armed forces. The Colombian Government’s decision to dismiss a number of army officers as a result of recent extra-judicial killings and cases of criminal conspiracy was important. We welcome that those responsible for these crimes will stand trial. It is vital that the Colombian authorities continue to show determination to punish those responsible for abuses, as I reiterated to the Colombian Vice-President on 19 November.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Armed Conflict
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government has taken to monitor the current situation in Democratic Republic of the Congo. [233674]
Gillian Merron: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visited Kinshasa, Goma and Kigali on 1-2 November. He saw conditions in the region at first-hand and urged both President Kabila of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and President Kagame of Rwanda to work for a political solution to the current crisis in eastern DRC, including full implementation of the Nairobi Accord. Our embassy and the Department for International Development office in Kinshasa maintain close contact with the DRC Government, the UN operation, international partners and humanitarian agencies.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to protect British citizens and aid workers in Democratic Republic of the Congo. [233676]
Gillian Merron: We have no exact figures for the numbers of British citizens in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), though we believe the numbers to be small. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice advises against all travel to eastern and north eastern DRC including North Kivu. Those British nationals in the effected areas are likely to be working with international aid agencies and UN agencies. These organisations have their own security systems in place for the evacuation of staff and take advice from the UN mission in the DRC locally. Our embassy in Kinshasa is able to provide limited consular assistance to British nationals in need of emergency assistance. We have a diplomat based in Goma, who as part of their role is to offer consular advice and assistance.
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of reports by UN officials of the involvement of Angolan troops in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [235359]
Gillian Merron: We have received no confirmed reports from any source, including the UN, of formed units of Angolan troops operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The UN Peacekeeping Force’s (MONUC) official spokesman has denied rumours that there are Angolan troops in eastern DRC. The Angolan ambassador to DRC has also denied that there are Angolan troops present in the country.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: United Nations
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent consideration his Department has given to the provision of additional resources to the UN mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement. [233316]
Gillian Merron: UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) forces on the ground are best placed to deal with the current situation: I fully support their efforts to do so, and commend them for the work they have done. It is not clear that a rapid deployment of forces from the EU or elsewhere at this time could produce a significant increase in the capability that already exists in the region. Discussions with EU partners have revealed a broad consensus in line with this assessment.
The UK currently has five personnel within MONUC, occupying key staff appointments in Kinshasa and Goma. We will consider requests for additional support from the UN but large scale deployments are highly unlikely in view of our operational commitments elsewhere.
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the provision of additional resources to United Nations Mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [233317]
Gillian Merron: During the EU’s General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting on 10 November, EU Foreign Ministers agreed that at present the best option would be to ensure that the UN Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (MONUC) 17,000 troops are correctly deployed and effectively mandated to provide immediate security in the east of the country. The Council issued conclusions which reiterated its support for MONUC in these difficult circumstances and asked that everything be done to allow it to fulfil its role completely. The Council also underlined the importance of the forthcoming debates on renewal of MONUC’s mandate and on strengthening its capacity and called for the strengthening of co-operation between the EU, its member states and MONUC.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Violence
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards the development of a country-wide plan of action and strategy to combat gender violence in Democratic Republic of the Congo; and what assistance the UK has given towards this task. [232113]
Gillian Merron: The UN Senior Adviser on Sexual Violence has been working on a global strategy for tackling the issue in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in consultation with partners. The UK has been taking an active interest in the project. In particular, we have been contributing to the impunity action plan for sexual crimes in DRC, which is a component of the wider UN strategy.
Addressing sexual violence requires a multi-dimensional approach and the UK Government are tackling the problem through a range of programmes. As part of our Security Sector Accountability Programme (£80 million over five years), we are providing accommodation for integrated brigades, human rights training within the military and have supported the reform of the army chain of payments. The programme includes a strong police reform component focussing on improving command and control procedures and supporting special units within the police to deal with sexual violence. We fund medical and psychosocial care for victims through our contribution to the UN Humanitarian Pooled Fund (£35 million). With EU partners we are supporting a justice rehabilitation programme in Eastern DRC, Restoration of the Judicial System in Eastern Congo (REJUSCO), which includes a component providing legal support and accompaniment for victims through the criminal process. The issue of sexual violence is raised on a regular basis by Her Majesty's ambassador and others to senior members of the Government to generate political will to tackle the issue.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |