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19 Jan 2009 : Column 1174W—continued
Passports: Offenders
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what circumstances UK nationals who are fugitives from justice can have their passports renewed by UK consulates overseas (a) generally and (b) in Northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [245220]
Caroline Flint: The Identity and Passport Service (IPS), a Home Office Agency, has the lead on the policy on who does or does not get a British passport. As long as the EPS have been notified of a fugitive from justice, there are specific procedures in place to ensure any such applicant for a British passport is properly scrutinised and relevant UK authorities are consulted on the decision to issue or not. These procedures apply across the world, including in northern Cyprus.
Sri Lanka
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the government of Sri Lanka on the arrest and trial of those responsible for the killing of local aid workers from the organisation Action Contre La Faim in August 2006. [246299]
Bill Rammell: The UK has expressed clearly to the Government of Sri Lanka that it is vital for the perpetrators of this crime to be brought to justice following a through and credible investigation. In a debate in the House on 18 December 2008, Official Report, column 1344, I spoke of the murder of 17 ‘Action Contre La Faim’ workers in 2006 as an example of the failure to investigate and prosecute those alleged to be responsible for human rights abuses. We have consistently called on all parties to the conflict to abide by all obligations under International Humanitarian Law.
Sri Lanka: Armed Conflict
Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports his Department has received on the treatment of international non-governmental organisations in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement. [243831]
Bill Rammell: In September 2008, the UN and all international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) working in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam-controlled Vanni were asked to withdraw as the Government of Sri Lanka could not assure their safety. INGOs are currently working in a challenging environment and in recent months there have been instances of attacks on INGO staff members. Our high commission in Colombo regularly urges the Sri Lankan Government to allow INGOs full access to the Vanni and encourages them to ensure adequate protection for all non- governmental organisation workers.
Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received on the alleged use of cluster bombs by the government of Sri Lanka in the Vanni region; and if he will make a statement. [243832]
Bill Rammell: We are aware of claims about the use of cluster munitions by the Sri Lankan military. The ongoing military hostilities and the lack of independent information coming from northern Sri Lanka make it difficult to verify these claims. We have raised this issue with the Sri Lankan Government who have denied the use of such munitions by their military in any operations. The use of cluster munitions in general is of serious concern to the UK.
Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the human rights situation in the Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement. [243833]
Bill Rammell: We are concerned about the human rights situation in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. Sporadic attacks between groups continue. We welcome the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), central Government and the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) setting out a three month action plan for the release of all TMVP child soldiers. The UK continues to encourage all authorities in the east to pursue a peaceful and democratic path.
Sweden: British Overseas Citizenship
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK nationals have taken up residence in (a) Sweden and (b) Denmark in each of the last five years. [245264]
Caroline Flint: Figures from the Swedish and Danish national statistics offices show that the number of UK nationals resident in each country over the last five years were as follows:
| (a) Sweden | |
| Number | |
| (b) Denmark | |
| Number | |
These figures are the net UK nationals resident in Sweden and Denmark each year. There are no published statistics for the number of UK nationals taking up residence each year in either Sweden or Denmark.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK nationals are engaged in full-time study in (a) Swedish and (b) Danish universities. [245269]
Caroline Flint: The latest figures available from the Swedish and Danish authorities show that (a) there were 482 UK nationals engaged in full-time study at Swedish universities in 2006-07; and (b) there were 338 UK nationals engaged in full-time study at Danish universities in 2008.
Tourists: Illness
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens have died while on holiday overseas in each of the last five years; and how many died in each EU member state in each such year. [243773]
Gillian Merron: Given the volume of information, I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Library of the House.
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from UK organisations on the provision of health care for British citizens who are taken ill while on holiday overseas. [243774]
Gillian Merron [holding answer 15 December 2008]: We have received no representations from UK organisations on the provision of health care for British citizens taken ill while on holiday overseas.
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support his Department has put in place to support the families of those whose relatives (a) are taken ill and (b) die while on holiday overseas. [243775]
Gillian Merron [holding answer 15 December 2008]: Consular staff in London, and around the world, can offer advice and support to the families of those whose relatives are either taken ill or die while they are overseas. In the case of illness or injury, with the individuals’ permission, we can inform family and friends when a British national has been hospitalised, keep them up to date with developments and help transfer money from friends or relatives in the UK to meet any necessary costs.
In the event of a death overseas, we ask the UK police to contact the next of kin as soon as possible. Consular staff do their best to ensure that the family’s wishes are carried out, for example, regarding burial, cremation or bringing the body home. We can put the family in touch with local lawyers and local and international funeral directors. As with hospitalisation, we cannot pay expenses, but can help transfer money from friends or relatives in the UK.
If the death occurred under suspicious circumstances, we can assist the family in dealing with the local police—and staff are available to meet family representatives in London. When there is an ongoing investigation overseas, we can ask a local UK police force to consider providing a family liaison officer, who advises and helps the family in dealing with the investigation.
UN World Conference against Racism
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the government of Israel on UK attendance at the Durban Review Conference in 2009; and if he will make a statement. [241168]
Gillian Merron:
Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have been in discussions with their Israeli counterparts on the Durban Review Conference. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed the Durban Review Conference with the government of Israel.
Whales
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department last met representatives from the International Whaling Commission to discuss international whaling practices. [240966]
Gillian Merron: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials form part of the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs-led UK delegation to the Annual Meeting of the International Whaling Commission, most recently held in Santiago, June 2008.
The FCO also contributed to the Government's recent communication to the International Whaling Commission, in response to the establishment by that body of a Small Working Group to consider issues in respect of its future. In that communication, the Government set out what we consider to be practical and necessary solutions to each of the 33 issues identified for the working group to consider.
The UK has also published ‘The International Whaling Commission—The Way Forward’
distributed to contracting governments, to assist in this process.
The Small Working Group met in Cambridge, 8-10 December 2008. An FCO official formed part of the UK delegation. The Small Working Group will meet again in Rome in March 2009.
Zimbabwe: Politics and Government
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on political developments in Zimbabwe. [245465]
Gillian Merron: Mr. Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party continue to be the obstacle that stands in the way of political progress in Zimbabwe. The people of Zimbabwe want a new government that reflects the March elections and that is committed to implementing urgently needed reform. Robert Mugabe is refusing to implement the political agreement reached with the two Movement for Democratic Change formations in September and is allowing Zimbabwe to sink further into an economic and humanitarian crisis, which is already spreading across the region. We continue to work with South Africa and others in the region to encourage a durable solution, and to provide humanitarian aid to the innocent victims of these policies.
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [246536]
Gillian Merron
[holding answer 12 January 2009]: Mr. Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party continue to be the obstacle that stands in the way of political progress in Zimbabwe. The people of Zimbabwe want a new government that reflects the March elections and that is committed to implementing urgently needed reform. Robert Mugabe is refusing to implement the political agreement reached with the two Movement for Democratic Change formations in September and is allowing Zimbabwe
to sink further into an economic and humanitarian crisis, which is already spreading across the region. We continue to work with South Africa and others in the region to encourage a durable solution, and to provide humanitarian aid to the innocent victims of these policies.
Health
Abortion
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions there were in each of the last 15 years, broken down by (a) grounds for abortion, (b) length of gestation and (c) health authority have been performed under the Abortion Act 1967 as amended by section 37 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 where the unborn child was suffering from cleft (i) palate and (ii) lip. [247737]
Dawn Primarolo: The information is shown in the following table for abortions since 1995.
Prior to 1995, the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems codes did not include cleft lip and/or palate. For 1995 onwards, abortions with a principal medical condition of cleft lip or cleft palate are coded together as cleft lip and/or palate.
Data cannot be broken down by gestation or health authority for confidentiality reasons in line with the Office for National Statistics' guidance on the disclosure of abortion statistics (2005). All abortions shown were performed under section l(l)(d) of the Abortion Act 1967, that there is substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped. 2008 statistics are due to be published in spring 2009.
| Abortions performed under Section 1(1 )(d) of the Abortion Act 1967, with a principal medical condition of cleft lip and/or palate by gestation, residents of England and Wales, 1995-07 | ||
| Total cleft lip and/or palate | ||
| All gestations | 24+ weeks | |
| (1) For years 2003, 2004 and 2005, some of the principal medical conditions for abortions performed under Section 1(1 )(d) had to be suppressed as the totals for each single year were too small to release. In the three years 2003-2005, there were 11 cases with a principal medical condition of the congenital malformation cleft lip and/or cleft palate. (2) Suppressed value less than 10 (between 0 and nine). From 2003 onwards, totals of less than 10 are suppressed for reasons of confidentiality in line with the Office for National Statistics' (ONS) guidance on the disclosure of abortion statistics (2005). | ||
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