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22 Jan 2009 : Column 1644W—continued
Ethiopia: Eritrea
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the UK’s role is in resolving the Ethiopia-Eritrea border dispute; and what (a) funding and (b) staff resources he has allocated to this function. [249350]
Gillian Merron: The UK’s policy towards the Ethiopia-Eritrea border dispute has three aims: to avoid any return to war; for the border to be demarcated; and for the parties to normalise their relations. Ethiopia and Eritrea should agree a way forward to allow demarcation to proceed and for a normalisation process to begin, as set out in the Algiers Agreements of June and December 2000, to which both Ethiopia and Eritrea are signatories.
My right hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. McNulty) the then Minister for Counter Terrorism and Immigration discussed the border issue when meeting the Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on a visit to the horn of Africa in June 2008. My noble Friend, the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown also discussed this issue with the Eritrean ambassador in December 2008. In addition, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials regularly reiterate these messages to both the Ethiopian and Eritrean ambassadors to London and to their interlocutors in the Governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea in Addis Ababa and Asmara respectively.
From July 2000 to July 2008, we funded the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) through our assessed contributions. Our embassies in Addis Ababa and Asmara along with other members of the FCO are involved in efforts to resolve the dispute. However, as this is one of many issues with which they have to deal with, it is difficult to offer a precise figure for resources used for this purpose.
Greece: Macedonia
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what diplomatic steps his Department has taken to encourage agreement between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) in their negotiations on the name of FYROM. [247729]
Caroline Flint
[holding answer 15 January 2009]: UN Special Representative, Matthew Nimetz, mediates negotiations between Greece and Macedonia seeking to
resolve their bilateral dispute over the ‘name issue’. The UK supports this process and we regularly encourage both Greece and Macedonia to work seriously and flexibly to find a solution. Since the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation summit last year, Ministers and officials have discussed the matter with both our Greek and Macedonian counterparts. Our ambassadors in Athens and Skopje also regularly raise the issue at the most senior levels.
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the prospects for agreement between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on the name of FYROM being reached in the near future; and if he will make a statement. [247730]
Caroline Flint [holding answer 15 January 2009]: Negotiations between Greece and Macedonia on the ‘name issue’ are ongoing under the auspices of UN Special Representative, Matthew Nimetz. The UK is not party to the detail of these negotiations or the position taken by the two parties in the negotiations and therefore any assessment of the prospects for agreement would necessarily be speculative. However, we continue to encourage both Macedonia and Greece to engage flexibly in the negotiations and hope that they will be able to find an early solution.
Holidays Abroad: Health Services
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support his Department provides for the families of those whose relatives (a) are taken ill and (b) die whilst on holiday abroad. [248394]
Gillian Merron [holding answer 19 January 2009]: 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 and keep them up to date with developments. We can also 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 we 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.
Nigeria: Corruption
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Nigerian Government about tackling corruption in that country. [248544]
Gillian Merron: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend the Minister of State for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, both discussed corruption with the Nigerian Foreign Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, when he visited London on 10 December 2008. Our high commissioner and senior officials also continue to raise corruption issues with the Nigerian Government on a regular basis. The Government welcome President Yar’Adua’s public commitment to the rule of law, reform and tackling corruption. We continue to work with the Nigerian Government to build an effective institutional framework to tackle corruption. This includes cross-Whitehall co-operation with the Nigerian authorities to bring individual cases to prosecution.
Somalia: Armed Conflict
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on Islamist forces allegedly taking control of bases in Mogadishu vacated by departing Ethiopian troops. [249832]
Gillian Merron [holding answer 20 January 2009]: The security situation in south central Somalia remains extremely challenging following the withdrawal of the Ethiopian troops. It is difficult to verify the divergent reports emerging from Mogadishu. However, on 16 January, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) released a press statement saying that, contrary to some press reporting, areas vacated by the Ethiopian troops have now been occupied by Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) forces, who are working together under the Djibouti peace process. Ethiopia's withdrawal presents a security challenge, but it also offers an opportunity for progress towards a Somali-led, long-term political solution to the conflict.
Uganda: Armed Conflict
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of (a) the activities of the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) and (b) the prospects that the LRA leader Joseph Kony will rejoin peace talks. [248729]
Gillian Merron: We strongly condemn the indiscriminate attacks by the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) on Congolese and South Sudanese civilians which have occurred over the last month. Reports of these attacks vary widely, but the UN have estimated the attacks have resulted in around 500 casualties and 400 abductions.
The Government of Uganda remains committed to the Juba Peace Process. They have publicly stated that the aim of the current military operation against the LRA is to put further pressure on Joseph Kony to sign the Final Peace Agreement, already negotiated and agreed on in Juba, including by the LRA. David Matsanga,
the LRA spokesperson, has called for an immediate ceasefire, to enable the LRA to return to the negotiating table under new conditions.
Wales
Revenue and Customs
Mrs. Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer of 11 December 2008, Official Report, column 260W, on Revenue and Customs: Wales, what arrangements other business units relocating from Bangor have in place to ensure continuation of the provision across north Wales of the Welsh language service. [246788]
Mr. Timms: I have been asked to reply.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) provides a comprehensive Welsh language service across all business areas in line with the Welsh Language Act 1993. The majority of HMRC’s Welsh language services are provided from its offices in Porthmadog and Cardiff. These offices continue to be able to recruit Welsh speaking staff. They are being retained and the services they provide to Welsh speaking customers who telephone, visit or write, will be unaffected by the regional review decisions for Wales.
Those business units currently located in Bangor which offer services to external customers (principally Debt Management and Banking, Local Compliance and Benefits and Credits Delivery) are committed to the continued provision of a Welsh language service in accordance with HMRC’s Welsh Language Scheme. Details of the scheme are published on the HMRC internet site at:
As my hon. Friend confirmed in her earlier answer of 11 December 2008, Official Report, column 263W, face to face inquiry services in Bangor will continue to be provided for Welsh language speakers either from the same building or from another building nearby.
Northern Ireland
Crime Prevention
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the performance of the Lock Out Crime Scheme against its objectives. [248427]
Paul Goggins: Over a three year period, the lock out crime scheme has contributed to a 24.5 per cent. reduction in domestic burglary against a target of 2.1 per cent. and has improved security in approximately 17,000 homes across Northern Ireland against a target of 7,000 to 10,000 homes.
Feedback from the beneficiaries of the scheme has indicated that a majority enjoy an increased level of personal security as a direct result of this initiative.
Departmental Surveys
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department's central media and communication unit spent on public surveys in each of the last three years. [248027]
Paul Goggins: The total expenditure by the Northern Ireland Office's central media and communication unit on public surveys in each of the last three years is set out in the following table.
| Financial year | NIO Total expenditure on public surveys (£) |
Police Service of Northern Ireland: Finance
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the effect on the Northern Ireland policing budget if devolution of policing and justice takes place during the current Comprehensive Spending Review period. [248929]
Paul Goggins: The total allocation for PSNI is in excess of £1.1 billion for each of the three years of the comprehensive spending review (CSR). In providing for the CSR settlement, the Government took account of expectations in relation to the devolution of policing and justice.
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what level of resource expenditure on the part of the Police Service of Northern Ireland he estimates there will be in the current three year comprehensive spending period. [249015]
Paul Goggins: The Police Service of Northern Ireland was allocated the following resource budget in the current three year comprehensive spending period:
| Police Service of Northern Ireland (£ million) | |
Prisons: Cannabis
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to ensure the amount of cannabis used in Northern Ireland's prisons is reduced. [248115]
Paul Goggins: On 21 July 2008 I published a comprehensive report on measures to tackle the flow of drugs into prison establishments.
Since then, significant steps have been taken to ensure that the volume of drugs including cannabis entering prisons is reduced. These include:
Stringent new measures to manage inmates’ personal cash accounts including restrictions on the passing of money into or out of the prison;
Further training and deployment of specialist search staff, including use of specialist staff at visits entrances;
Specialist training for new support grade staff;
Enhanced observation of prisoners visits;
Improved sharing of intelligence and closer co-operation with PSNI in identifying potential traffickers;
Improved arrangements for the arrest and prosecution of individuals suspected or identified smuggling drugs into prisons.
Re-offenders
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2009, Official Report, column 203W, on re-offenders, what the release dates are for the 13 people still in custody. [250494]
Paul Goggins: Only three of the persons referred to in the answer of 12 January 2009, Official Report, column 203W, currently have release dates—April 2009, February 2012 and May 2012 respectively.
If the hon. Gentleman would like further information he may care to write to me.
Young Offenders: Convictions
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many juveniles were convicted of a criminal offence in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months for which figures are available, broken down by category of offence. [250535]
Paul Goggins: The following table gives the number of juveniles (aged 10 to 17 years) convicted of an offence broken down by offence classification.
Data are for the calendar year 2006 (the latest year available) and are collated on the principal offence rule; so only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.
| Number of juveniles (aged 10 to 17 years) convicted by offence classification 2006 | |
| Offence classification | Number |
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