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23 Feb 2009 : Column 372W—continued
I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 24 November 2008, Official Report, column 1043W, which gives details on the costs of maintaining these sites. The cost of maintaining our 232 departmental websites on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)'s previous web platform in 2007-08 was approximately £870,000. The cost of
maintaining the 240 departmental websites on the FCO's new web platform in 2008-09 is expected to be £1,386,000. These figures cover hosting and support costs, but are not directly comparable because of the extensive changes in the way the web platform is managed in 2008-09, compared to 2007-08. The costs do not include staff time spent updating the website.
Departmental Lobbying
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Ministers in his Department received representations from (a) Lord Moonie, (b) Lord Taylor of Blackburn , (c) Lord Snape and (d) Lord Truscott in the last seven months. [255229]
Departmental Reorganisation
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 7 February 2008, Official Report, column 1399W, on departmental reorganisation, what decisions have been made about the level of his Department’s funding for science and innovation in financial years (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11. [246281]
David Miliband: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills have agreed funding arrangements for the next two years on science and innovation work. This will see an increase from £9.85 million in 2008-09 to £10.15 million in 2009-10 and 2010-11.
Departmental Secondment
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2008, Official Report, columns 1773-77W, on departmental secondment, how many officials are on secondment from his Department, broken down by (a) job title, (b) grade and (c) department or institution to which they are seconded. [257091]
Gillian Merron: As at 1 February 2009 there were 136 officials seconded from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to a wide range of other Government Departments, non-governmental organisations and the private sector. The 136 officials comprise 40 senior management level, 17 at D7, 34 at D6, 11 at C5, 15 at C4, 14 at B3 and five at A2 level. For security reasons it is not possible to provide a breakdown by job title and Department or institution.
These figures do not include FCO staff working for UK Trade & Investment or the UK Borders Agency.
EU Foreign Policy
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what foreign policy objectives the EU has established, ranked in order of priority assigned by the Council of Ministers; and if he will make a statement. [254456]
Caroline Flint [holding answer 5 February 2009]: The European Council sets the direction for the EU through a process of negotiation between the 27 member states, and makes its decisions known through Council conclusions. Every six months the rotating EU presidency publishes a plan of action which is reported to the Council and contains a section on foreign policy. However, these papers do not rank foreign policy objectives in priority order.
The 2003 European Security Strategy (ESS) provides the framework for the EU’s external action. In December 2008 the European Council endorsed the High Representatives Review of the implementation of the ESS. The ESS and the review suggest that Europe needs to be more active, more capable and more coherent in the external sphere and to work with partners in achieving its objectives. These include tackling distant threats such as terrorism and proliferation, with a focus on Iran and North Korea; building security in our neighbourhood including in the Balkans, the Middle East and the Mediterranean; and contributing to a well functioning international institutional system that is rule-based. The documents set out the need for the EU to tackle concerns over “frozen conflicts”, to push towards a settlement in the Middle East and to focus on ensuring energy security, including greater diversification of energy sources and a more unified energy market within the EU.
The review makes clear the principle that states have a shared responsibility to protect populations, and that there is a link between security and development leading to the need for a comprehensive approach to conflict prevention and resolution combining all of the tools at the EU’s disposal. The review also acknowledges the role that the EU has to play in conflicts further afield such as stabilising Afghanistan, and supporting UN objectives in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan/Darfur, Chad and Somalia. It also recognises the need for the EU to expand relationships with China and India and maintain close ties with Canada and Japan, and build on relations with Brazil and South Africa.
EU Satellite Centre
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the funding of the European Union Satellite Centre in Torrejón, Spain came from the United Kingdom in 2008. [257067]
Caroline Flint: The UK paid 16.90 per cent. to the EU Satellite Centre’s budgets last year, in accordance with the gross national income key rate for 2008. This represented £1.4 million towards the centre’s budget.
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost to the public purse was of requests by the UK for information from the European Union Satellite Centre in Torrejón, Spain in 2008. [257068]
Caroline Flint: There was no additional cost to the public purse of requests by the UK for information from the EU Satellite Centre (EUSC) in Torrejón, Spain in 2008.
Although the UK did submit some tasks in 2008, these were assessed to be of interest to other member states as well, and were adopted as Council tasks. There was therefore no additional charge to the UK, beyond our mandatory annual contribution towards the costs of the EUSC.
The EUSC board approves a new budget annually, and the UK’s annual contribution therefore changes each year according to the size of the uplift and any changes to the gross national income key rate applied. In 2008, the UK’s contribution was £1.4 million.
Falkland Islands: Air Routes
Mr. Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect on the British Antarctic Survey of recent increases in fares on the Falkland Islands airbridge. [257812]
Gillian Merron: It is understood that the impact of recent fare increases remains manageable within the British Antarctic Survey budget.
Fines
Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any administrative financial penalties may be levied by his Department and its agencies. [253594]
Gillian Merron: Neither the Foreign and Commonwealth Office nor its agencies can levy administrative financial penalties.
Guantanamo Bay
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the Government plans to provide the US administration in closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. [255561]
Bill Rammell [holding answer 10 February 2009]: We welcome President Obama’s Executive Order to close Guantanamo Bay within one year, and further Orders on detainee treatment and interrogation techniques. The UK has long called for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and we recognise that the US Government will require help from its allies to achieve this. We have already secured the release and return of 13 UK nationals and residents from Guantanamo Bay. We will continue to share our experience in accepting the transfer of former Guantanamo detainees with our European partners and others to help support the closure of the detention facility.
Horn of Africa: Politics and Government
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current political situation in (a) Somalia, (b) Ethiopia and (c) the surrounding region; and if he will make a statement. [254116]
Gillian Merron:
The Somali Parliament expanded its number of seats by 275 during the latest round of talks
in Djibouti in the last week of January. Over 150 new Members of Parliament (MPs) were sworn in. The MPs elected a new President, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, on 31 January 2009, who will lead the Somali Government. It is too early to assess whether this development will help to produce the broad-based Government Somalia needs, although the expansion of Parliament is in itself a positive development.
We are working with the Ethiopian Government to ensure political space is maintained ahead of the Ethiopian national elections next year. Our current concerns focus around the passing of a law regulating non-governmental organisation social advocacy, and the re-arrest of the opposition politician Birtukan Midekssa.
We welcomed the completion of Ethiopia's mission in Somalia, and its withdrawal.
The UN Security Council (UNSC) recently passed a resolution condemning Eritrea for its incursion into Djibouti in June 2008. We will continue to monitor the dispute, paying particular attention to the deadline set by the UNSC for Eritrea to take action to engage on and resolve the dispute with Djibouti.
In relation to the Ethiopia-Eritrea border dispute, while there has been no recent fighting, a resolution of the underlying problem currently appears unlikely.
India: Terrorism
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Indian counterpart about international terrorism. [254683]
Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visited India on 13-15 January 2009. During his visit he met his Indian counterpart, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, where they discussed the challenge that both the UK and India face from international terrorism, and the importance of strengthening bilateral counter terrorism co-operation.
Following his subsequent visit to Islamabad on 16-17 January 2009, the Foreign Secretary outlined in a letter to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee the messages he gave to the government of Pakistan. He highlighted the need for Pakistan to take rapid, concrete action to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice and to dismantle terror networks operating on Pakistani soil.
International Relations
Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the observance in the UK of the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories pursuant to UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/63/110; and if he will make a statement. [254098]
Gillian Merron: No such representations have been received. The UK remains committed to modernising its relationship with the Overseas Territories, whilst taking fully into account the views of the peoples of the Territories.
Iran: International Relations
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects the foreign ministers of the P5+1 to meet to discuss a new UN Security Council Resolution on Iran; and if he will make a statement. [253953]
David Miliband: Senior officials from the E3+3 met on 4 February 2009. They reaffirmed their commitment to achieving a diplomatic resolution to the Iran nuclear issue based on the dual track strategy embodied in a series of UN Security Council Resolutions. They agreed to consult on next steps. At present, a date has not been set for a meeting of E3+3 Foreign Ministers.
Iran: Proscribed Organisations
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Government of Iran on the decision to de-proscribe the People's Mojahedin Organisation of Iran as a terrorist organisation within the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [253954]
David Miliband: The status of the Mujaheddin-e-Khalq (MEK, also known as the People’s Mujahedeen Organisation of Iran or PMOI) has been regularly discussed by Ministers and officials in meetings with their Iranian counterparts, most recently, on 7 February 2009, when the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Ali Larijani, raised the issue with me.
On 26 January 2009 the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council adopted a new list of proscribed organisations and individuals, which did not include the PMOI.
Iraq: Asylum
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to seek to ensure the recognition of international humanitarian requirements in respect of the inhabitants of Ashraf city. [256110]
Bill Rammell [holding answer 10 February 2009]: Responsibility for the camp was handed to the Iraqi authorities from 1 January 2009 by the US. The US will retain a presence at the camp in an advisory/monitoring capacity. We understand that the International Committee of the Red Cross is following developments at the camp closely and that the Iraqi authorities have undertaken to continue to provide access to such bodies as well as to the US authorities.
The US received assurances from the Iraqi authorities making clear their commitment to the humane treatment and continued wellbeing of the camp residents. We understand the Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights also visited the camp and delivered these assurances to a representative body of the residents.
We are naturally concerned that the rights of all those involved are observed and that they continue to be treated humanely and their human rights respected. We understand that the US remains satisfied that the Iraqi authorities are fully aware of their responsibilities with regard to Camp Ashraf and its residents.
Israel: Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions since January 2008 (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have discussed with their Israeli counterparts Israel's possession of nuclear weapons. [255772]
Bill Rammell: Ministers have had no discussions, since January 2008, with our Israeli counterparts regarding their possession of nuclear weapons.
We have on a number of occasions called on Israel to accede to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty as a non-nuclear weapon state and also to the Chemical Weapons Convention, and will continue to do so.
Kashmir
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in India and Pakistan on the situation in Kashmir; what steps his Department is taking in support of a bilateral resolution between India and Pakistan; and if he will make a statement. [255558]
Bill Rammell [holding answer 9 February 2009]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last discussed the situation in Kashmir with Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on 14 January 2009 and with Pakistani Foreign Minister Qureshi on 26 November 2008. Our policy towards Kashmir has not changed—we continue to encourage both Pakistan and India to seek a lasting resolution to the issue of Kashmir, which takes into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
Through the Conflict Prevention Programme, the Government fund a number of projects designed to support efforts to facilitate dialogue, address the causes and impact of conflict and create improvements in the quality of life experienced by Kashmiris. We are supporting capacity-building and skills training for non-governmental organisations on both sides of the Line of Control, funding media projects that bring Indian and Pakistani journalists together, and helping with curriculum design that promotes a modern approach to education.
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