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12 Feb 2009 : Column 2202W—continued
South Georgia: Research
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2009, Official Report, column 884W, on Falkland Islands dependencies, how much it cost to maintain the two year-round research stations at South Georgia in the last 12 months. [256120]
Gillian Merron:
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands each provide the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) with annual funding of £550,000 for the operation of the research station at King Edward Point. The projected running costs for 2008-09 is £715,000.
The remainder of the annual funding is used to finance the annual resupply of the base, the costs of chartering a fisheries survey vessel, and BAS overheads such as insurance costs.
The research station at Bird Island is a British Antarctic Survey facility and its projected running costs for 2008-09 is £335,000.
Sri Lanka
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) meetings and (b) other contacts he has had with groups representing the Tamil population of Sri Lanka in 2009. [254629]
Bill Rammell: On 27 January 2009, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown met a group of over 100 representatives from Tamil communities in the UK to discuss the current situation in Sri Lanka. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials regularly meet groups representing Tamils, most recently in early February 2009.
Sri Lanka: Peace Negotiations
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to seek to bring about a ceasefire in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement. [253467]
Bill Rammell [holding answer 2 February 2009]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear in a statement on 29 January 2009 the UK's concerns about the humanitarian situation in northern Sri Lanka. He urged the Sri Lankan Government to put an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in place.
The full text of that statement is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Sri Lankan Government to stop its offensive in Tamil areas and to ensure that government forces respect human rights; and if he will make a statement. [253468]
Bill Rammell [holding answer 2 February 2009]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear in a statement on 29 January 2009 the UK’s concerns about the humanitarian situation in northern Sri Lanka. He urged the Sri Lankan Government to put an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in place.
The full text of that statement is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at
Sri Lanka: Politics and Government
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment of the security situation in Sri Lanka is; and what assessment he has made of the likelihood of an end to terrorist violence in that country. [253980]
Bill Rammell [holding answer 3 February 2009]: The UK has serious concerns about the humanitarian and security situation in northern Sri Lanka. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in the house on 14 January 2009, Official Report, columns 209-210, we wish to see an end to the violence and agreement on the need for a ceasefire. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary repeated the Prime Minister's call in his statements on 29 and 31 January 2009 urging the Government of Sri Lanka to announce a humanitarian ceasefire. The UK has called on both sides urgently to make progress on a political solution which addresses the legitimate concerns of all of Sri Lanka's communities.
Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the government of Sudan on bringing Sudan’s National Security Act into line with the provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. [254359]
Gillian Merron: Revision of the National Security Act is essential for the conduct of free and fair elections which, under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), are due in July 2009. The parties to the CPA agreed to extend the current parliamentary term until several pieces of legislation, including the National Security Act, have been enacted.
We urge the parties to the CPA to create conditions for free and fair elections through the Elections Donor Group and through the Power Sharing Working Group of the Assessment and Evaluation Commission (the international body mandated under the CPA to monitor implementation). My Right Hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised this with the Government of Sudan during his visit to Sudan in July 2008.
Tibet: Politics and Government
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 29 October 2008, Official Report, columns 30-32WS, on Tibet, what undertakings the Chinese government gave prior to his Department’s change of policy on Tibet; and if he will make a statement. [249325]
Bill Rammell: We did not consult the Chinese Government on the update to our policy on Tibet in the written ministerial statement of 29 October 2008, Official Report, columns 30-32WS.
Timor-Leste
John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment of the political situation in East Timor is; and if he will make a statement. [255466]
Bill Rammell:
East Timor has made slow but steady progress since the 2006 crisis. The security situation has stabilised following the February 2008 attacks on President Ramos Horta and Prime Minister Gusmao. Security sector reform, deep poverty and a weak judiciary remain key challenges. The United Nations Mission in Timor’s
mandate will be considered later this month and the UK will continue to encourage progress in the above key areas in order to achieve our ultimate goal of helping the people of East Timor stand on their own feet. Dr. Khare, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for East Timor, called on my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, on 21 October 2008 to discuss progress. The UK continues to provide support to East Timor, including through contributing £150,000 to the International Foundation for Electoral Systems to improve the functioning of Timorese election processes.
Western Sahara: Politics and Government
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to seek to ensure that the people of Western Sahara have a referendum on self-determination before 2010. [253663]
Bill Rammell: The Government continue to believe that progress towards a negotiated solution to the dispute in Western Sahara which provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara is best achieved under the auspices of the United Nations.
We continue to support the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his staff to secure agreement between the parties on the future status of Western Sahara. The date and terms of any eventual referendum should be agreed by all parties to the dispute.
In this respect the Government welcome the appointment of the UN Secretary-General’s new personal envoy to Western Sahara, Christopher Ross, and encourages all the parties to the dispute to enter into renewed negotiations in a spirit of realism and compromise.
Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the declaration of an exclusive economic zone by the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic concerning the waters off Western Sahara. [254097]
Bill Rammell: The Government are aware, through press releases and media reports, that representatives of the Polisario have declared, on behalf of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, an offshore exclusive economic zone in the waters off the coast of Western Sahara.
The status of Western Sahara remains unresolved pending the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his staff to achieve a negotiated, lasting solution between the parties to the dispute, providing for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
Zimbabwe: Politics and Government
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe. [255373]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Sir Nicholas Winterton) on Wednesday 11 February 2009, Official Report, column 2119W).
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [255650]
Mr. Michael Foster: I have been asked to reply.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Sir Nicholas Winterton) on Wednesday 11 February 2009, Official Report, column 2119W.
Home Department
Anti-terrorism Control Orders
Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the individuals subject to the 15 control orders under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 on 15 December 2008 had been subject to the provisions of one or more control orders for (a) under six months, (b) between six and 12 months, (c) between 12 months and two years, (d) between two and three years and (e) over three years. [255179]
Mr. Coaker [holding answer 9 February 2009]: The last quarterly written ministerial statement on control orders, covering the period 11 September to 10 December 2008, was published on 15 December 2008. The figures provided in this statement are the latest published figures on control orders. Of the individuals subject to control orders on 10 December 2008:
(a) One had been subject to one or more control orders for under six months.
(b) Seven had been subject to one or more control orders for between six and 12 months.
(c) Two had been subject to one or more control orders for between 12 months and two years.
(d) Three had been subject to one or more control orders for between two and three years.
(e) Two had been subject to one or more control orders for over three years.
Asylum: Sexuality
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people claimed asylum in the UK on grounds of their sexuality in each of the last five years. [255886]
Mr. Woolas: The requested information is unavailable as it is not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.
Information on asylum is published annually and quarterly. Asylum Statistics United Kingdom and the Asylum Bulletin are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
Asylum: Wimbledon
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many outstanding requests for (a) asylum and (b) indefinite leave to remain there are from applicants resident in Wimbledon constituency. [255952]
Mr. Woolas: The requested information is unavailable as it is not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.
Information on asylum is published annually and quarterly. Asylum Statistics United Kingdom and the Asylum Bulletin are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
Asylum: Zimbabwe
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refused Zimbabwean asylum seekers have been forcibly removed from the UK in each of the last five years. [255893]
Jacqui Smith: The following table shows the number of Zimbabwean national asylum cases, including dependants, who were removed, departed voluntarily or left under assisted returns from the United Kingdom between January 2004 and September 2008.
Figures for the fourth quarter of 2008 will be published on 24 February 2009.
Published statistics on immigration and asylum are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
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