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29 Jan 2009 : Column 726W—continued
Work experience students work on projects and areas associated with various FCO departments. This could include writing briefs and research work.
Of the 158 individuals undertaking work experience at the FCO, 138 were still in full-time education, 20 were recent graduates. All individuals undertaking work experience at FCO Services were in full-time education.
We do not hold statistics on the proportion of individuals who completed their set period of work experience in 2006 and 2007. All individuals completed their periods of work experience in 2008.
Individuals on the FCO’s undergraduate work placement scheme are given allowances to cover hotel accommodation, travel and expenses. In 2006, these averaged £321 per week. In 2007 and 2008 this average increased to £341 per week.
Diplomatic Service: Public Appointments
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK (a) embassies, (b) high commissions and (c) other overseas missions have a politically-appointed head of mission. [252111]
Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has two political appointees as high commissioner:
The right hon. Paul Boateng, high commissioner in South Africa, took up the post in June 2005.
The right hon. Helen Liddell, high commissioner in Australia, took up the post in July 2005.
India: Human Rights
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the Answer of 27 October 2008, Official Report, columns 532-3W, whether the next EU-India Human Rights Dialogue will take place before the end of 2008; and what subjects are on the agenda for the next dialogue. [243332]
Bill Rammell: We had hoped the EU/India Human Rights Dialogue would take place before the end of 2008. We now understand that it is due to take place in 2009, although the date has not yet been finalised by the EU presidency and the Indian government.
We expect religious freedom and minority rights in India, including the recent attacks in Orissa state, to be included on the agenda.
Iran: Diplomatic Relations
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on holding high-level direct discussions with the government of Iran. [252112]
Bill Rammell: We are fully prepared to engage Iran in direct discussions. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has met his Iranian counterpart on several occasions. These discussions allow us to make clear that we want a constructive relationship with Iran, but that this depends on its addressing issues of serious concern to the international community, including its nuclear ambitions and its failure to live up to its international human rights commitments.
Middle East: Armed Conflict
Mr. Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings Ministers in his Department have had at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with groups of British Muslims on events in Gaza since 27 December 2008; and what the names were of the individuals who attended each meeting. [252091]
Bill Rammell [holding answer 27 January 2009]: Since 27 December 2008 the following meetings have been held:
On 6 January 2009 my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (PUSS) at the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and I met with representatives and individuals from a number of organisations including the Quilliam Foundation, Muslim Council of Britain, British Muslim Forum, the Sufi Muslim Council, the Al Khoei Foundation, the UK Ismaili Council and the Ithna Asheri Khoja Shia World Federation.
On 8 January 2009 we met with members of the Muslim Women’s Advisory Group.
On 12 January 2009 my right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and Communities Secretary met with representatives and individuals from a number of organisations including the Quilliam Foundation, Muslim Council of Britain, British Muslim Forum, the City Circle, British Muslims for a Secular Democracy, the Sufi Muslim Council, the Al Khoei Foundation, the UK Ismaili Council and the Ithna Asheri Khoja Shia World Federation.
On 13 January 2009 my hon. Friend the PUSS at DCLG and I met with members of the Young Muslims Advisory Group.
Palestinians: Detainees
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Israeli Government on the detention without trial of elected members of the Palestinian Parliament. [251615]
Bill Rammell: We continue to restate our call for all elected Palestinian Legislative Council members detained by Israel to be either released or subject to due legal process.
Sri Lanka: Press Freedom
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Sri Lankan Government on the development of independent human rights reporting in Sri Lanka. [251080]
Bill Rammell: In March 2008, my noble Friend, the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, made clear at the UN Human Rights Council UK support for a stronger mandate and presence for the UN human rights mission in Sri Lanka directly with the Sri Lankan Government. He also raised this during his visit to Sri Lanka in July 2008. We continue to emphasise the need for independent human rights reporting in our regular contacts with the Sri Lankan Government.
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment of press freedom in northern Sri Lanka is; and what recent reports he has received of threats to the personal safety of journalists operating in the region. [251088]
Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the Written ministerial statement on Sri Lanka by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, 21 January 2009, Official Report, columns 29-32WS.
Northern Ireland
Departmental Catering
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) directly-operated and (b) franchised catering outlets his Department and its agencies provide for staff. [249080]
Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office provides directly operated catering facilities for staff at Stormont House, Maghaberry Prison, Magilligan Prison, Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre and the Prison Service college in Millisle, and franchised catering outlets for staff at the Northern Ireland Forensic Science Agency. Staff from the Department also have access to franchised catering facilities at Castle buildings and Dundonald house in Belfast and at its office in Millbank, London, which are shared and managed by other Departments and Agencies.
Departmental Travel
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008, Official Report, column 882W, on departmental travel, how much was spent by his Department's (a) agencies and (b) executive non-departmental public bodies on (i) staff travel within the UK and (ii) international staff travel in the last 12 months. [244007]
Mr. Woodward: Northern Ireland Office (NIO) agencies spent £1,772,000 in the last 12 months on staff travel. Of this total £5,000 has been identified as international travel.
More than £1,400,000 of this expenditure related to the Northern Ireland Prison Service, their main costs in this area came from training days and staff transfers:
Almost 9,000 training places were filled by staff at the Prison Service college for which they could reclaim travel expenses. The training college is based in Millisle which is a round trip of 182 and 78 miles respectively from the two main establishments which are Magilligan and Maghaberry. The other operational establishments are Hydebank Wood based in Bangor and PECCS which is also based in Maghaberry;
Excess fares are payable to staff that have been transferred to an establishment which is further from their home address than the one from which they are being transferred, this is payable for a three year period if the official remains in their new establishment.
Information for the Northern Ireland Office's executive non-departmental public bodies is an operational matter for each of the bodies, who operate independently of Government. I would encourage the hon. Member to write to the respective chief executives. Details of the NIO's non-departmental public bodies can be found in the NIO 2008 Departmental Report:
http://www.nio.gov.uk/northern_ireland_office_departmental _ report_2008.pdf.
Fire Services: Resignations
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons five officers resigned from the proposed dedicated road rescue team of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service to be established on 1 February 2009. [252958]
Paul Goggins: This is a devolved matter which is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
Offensive Weapons: Crime Prevention
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he plans to hold a knife amnesty in Northern Ireland. [252962]
Paul Goggins: Although there are no plans to hold another knife amnesty in the near future in Northern Ireland, I am currently developing a knife awareness campaign on the dangers of carrying knives. The campaign will be focused on young people and will launch in the next couple of months.
Parades
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with (a) political representatives and (b) the Parades Commission on the 2009 parades season in Northern Ireland. [252961]
Mr. Woodward: The disclosure of the information requested would be prejudicial to the effective conduct of public affairs. In the course of my duties I have discussions with a range of people and organisations to discuss various issues, such as, parading in Northern Ireland.
Police: Recruitment
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2009, on police recruitment in Northern Ireland, whether the 50/50 recruitment policy will be ended when the 30 per cent. Roman Catholic recruitment figure is reached if that takes place before 2011. [252959]
Paul Goggins: We are committed to reaching 30 per cent. Catholic composition within the PSNI regulars. When this target is reached the temporary provisions will lapse.
Prisoner Escapes
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners in Northern Ireland have absconded in each of the last five years; and how long each spent at large either (a) to date or (b) before being apprehended. [251273]
Paul Goggins: Since 2004, six prisoners have absconded and not yet returned to custody (one in 2004, one in 2006, one in 2007 and three in 2008).
The following tables provide a breakdown by calendar year of all prisoners who have absconded and returned to custody from 2007 to date. Prior to 1 January 2007 the specific time periods of absence for those abscondees who returned to custody are not available on a central record. To answer this question for those years would incur disproportionate costs.
In 2007 a total of 26 prisoners absconded of which one remains unlawfully at large (UAL).
| Numbers of prisoners | (a) Number of days spent from UAL to date | (b) Number of days from UAL to apprehension |
In 2008 a total of 36 prisoners absconded of which three remain unlawfully at large (UAL).
| Numbers of prisoners | (a) Number of days spent from UAL to date | (b) Number of days from UAL to apprehension |
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