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4 Feb 2009 : Column 1203W—continued
Democratic Republic of Congo: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on national caveats applicable to the operations of troops deployed with the UN peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement. [240833]
David Miliband: Certain troop contributing countries to the UN peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo have placed what the UN refers to as ‘theatre specific restrictions’ with regard to the geographical deployment of their troops and on mission chain of command. In my contacts with colleagues from troop contributing countries, I have encouraged them to be as flexible and responsive to the recent crisis as possible.
Departmental Buildings
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent on (a) maintaining, (b) decorating and (c) otherwise improving departmental buildings in the last five years; how much has been spent on wallpaper since 2001; and what plans there are for further spending on departmental decoration. [248054]
Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has spent the following on maintaining, decorating and improving departmental buildings, at home and overseas, for the financial years 2004-05 to 2007-08.
| £ million | ||
| Costs of maintai ning and decorating departmental b uildings | Cost of improving d epartmental b uildings | |
The cost of wallpaper is not recorded separately and figures prior to 2004-05 cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
The FCO maintains a forward programme for the upkeep of its UK estate as do our overseas posts. For 2008-09, the FCO has budgeted £17.4 million for building maintenance. Information about planned future expenditure by our overseas posts is not kept centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Japan: Tourism
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK citizens visited Japan in (a) 2007 and (b) 2006. [245262]
Bill Rammell: According to figures supplied by the Japanese Ministry of Justice, in 2007 192,148 British citizens and 30,681 British Nationals (Overseas) visited Japan. In 2006, 186,633 British citizens and 33,618 British Nationals (Overseas) visited Japan.
Middle East: Armed Conflict
Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the merits of suspension of Israel’s application for membership of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development until allegations of war crimes during Israel’s military operation on Gaza have been fully investigated; and if he will make a statement. [250332]
Bill Rammell: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) launched accession negotiations with Israel in 2007. Following the submission of Israel’s initial memorandum, which sets out the current state of Israel compliance with the OECD body of law and best practice, negotiations have consisted so far of technical scrutiny of the memorandum. Any political issues about the Israeli accession will be considered once the technical phase is over.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the number of (a) rockets and (b) mortar shells fired at Israel by Hamas in each year since 2001. [253015]
Bill Rammell: According to the Israeli ministry of foreign affairs the number of rockets and mortars fired at Israel between 2001-08 is as follows:
| Number of rockets and mortars fired | |
Sri Lanka: Armed Conflict
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to restrict access to funding and resources on the part of Tamil forces. [252000]
Mr. Coaker [holding answer 29 January 2009]: I have been asked to reply.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), or “Tamil Tigers” was proscribed by the then Home Secretary in 2001 under the terms of the Terrorism Act 2000. One of the consequences of proscription is that the resources of the organisation are defined as “terrorist property.” The definition of “terrorist property” is money or other property likely to be used for the purposes of terrorism, including any resources of a proscribed organisation. As such, there are a number of provisions, also contained in the Terrorism Act 2000, which make it unlawful to carry out specified fundraising activities if the person intends or has reasonable cause to suspect that the money or property may be used for the purposes of terrorism. The specified activities include inviting another to provide money or other property, receiving money or other property, providing money or other property, or possessing money or other property.
The LTTE is also subject to financial sanctions, i.e. an asset freeze, as a result of being both designated domestically by HM Treasury and listed under EU Council Decision 379.
A wide range of law enforcement and other agencies conduct operations to prevent financial resources reaching terrorist organisations, and the investigation of alleged terrorist finance offences is a matter for the police.
Stem Cells: Research
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the seminar on stem cell research organised by the British Embassy in Israel on 26 and 27 March 2008; and if he will make a statement. [247756]
Bill Rammell: I have arranged for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what files his Department holds on the seminar on stem cell research organised by the British Embassy in Israel on 26 and 27 March 2008; and if he will make a statement. [247757]
Bill Rammell: A brief report of the seminar was compiled by the science and innovation attaché at our embassy in Tel Aviv, which also has files covering the logistical arrangements for the seminar.
USA: Foreign Relations
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to initiate contacts with the incoming US administration. [248111]
Bill Rammell [holding answer 19 January 2009]: The Government have excellent links with the incoming Administration. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has met President-elect Obama twice in 2008, and spoken to him on other occasions. We have long standing ties with Vice-President-elect Biden as well as the nominees for Secretaries of State, Defence and Treasury, as well as with nearly all other prospective Cabinet Secretaries. These strong Cabinet relations are mirrored at all levels, thanks to the work of our embassy in Washington and our other US posts in establishing, cultivating and building strong links with officials who will work in the White House and across the incoming Administration.
Justice
Driving Under Influence
Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were convicted for driving under the influence of alcohol in each of the last five years, broken down by police authority. [253289]
Maria Eagle: Available information held by the Ministry of Justice on convictions at all courts for offences of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs for the years 2003 to 2007 (latest available) is provided in the following table. Data for 2008 should be available in the autumn of 2009.
The data provided cover both drink and drugs offences combined, as volumes of convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs cannot be provided separately.
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