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2 Mar 2009 : Column 1250W—continued
Isle of Man: EU Grants and Loans
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding the Isle of Man has received from the European Union in each of the last five years. [244050]
Caroline Flint: Neither the Foreign and Commonwealth Office nor the Ministry of Justice, the UK Department responsible for the UK’s relationship with the Crown Dependencies, has knowledge of any funding received by the Isle of Man from the European Union in the last five years.
Middle East: Armed Conflict
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions he has condemned (a) suicide and (b) other terrorist attacks in Israel; if he will place in the Library a copy of each such statement; and if he will make a statement. [242696]
Bill Rammell: We have consistently made clear that rocket attacks directed against Israeli civilians are utterly unacceptable. We led the work on UN Security Council Resolution 1860 which “condemns all violence and hostilities directed at civilians and all acts of terrorism”.
This has been our longstanding policy and over the last year we issued statements addressing both rocket attacks and suicide attacks.
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said on 2 March 2008 “I condemn the rocket attacks against Israel”, and on 4 February 2009 “I utterly condemn this morning's suicide attack in Dimona”.
Further statements can be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website,
Mr. Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of whether any of the weaponry or component parts thereof being used by the Israeli Defence Forces in Gaza has been manufactured in the UK or exported by a UK-registered company [247806]
Bill Rammell: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said in his statement to the House on 12 January 2009, Official Report, column 21:
“No arms exports are granted where there is a clear risk that those arms could be used for internal repression or external aggression, and that is surveyed very closely. Also, we have no evidence of any of the exports that he has pointed to being used in this operation.”—[ Official Report, 12 January 2009; vol. 486, c.29.]
Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the oral statement of 12 January 2009, Official Report, columns 21-38, on Gaza, what consideration he has given to referring the allegations made on the conduct of both sides to the International Criminal Court. [247882]
Bill Rammell: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary told the House on 19 January 2009, Official Repor t, column 504:
“allegations must be closely and speedily investigated. Obviously, the three key parties to that investigation are the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Government of Israel, and we are in touch with all of them.”—[ Official Report, 19 January 2009; vol. 486, c.504.]
Mr. Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the report of the Strategic Foresight Group on the Cost of Conflict in the Middle East. [257510]
Bill Rammell: The report of the Strategic Foresight Group on the Cost of Conflict in the Middle East highlights many of the negative consequences of the conflict. The Government share these concerns and continue to believe that a just and lasting peace is in the interests of all parties. We will continue to work to achieve such a peace.
Overseas Trade: Prices
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on support for the overseas price mechanism before the decision to withdraw support was taken. [256962]
David Miliband: There were extensive discussions between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and HM Treasury at Ministerial and official level in the lead-up to the announcement of the Comprehensive Spending Review. They naturally covered the overseas price mechanism among other issues.
Sri Lanka: EU Action
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of the Prime Minister’s discussion with his EU counterparts on proposals to call for a ceasefire in Sri Lanka. [250063]
Caroline Flint: I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 29 January 2009, Official Report, column 739W. In a statement of 23 February 2009, EU Foreign Ministers called for an immediate ceasefire. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary issued a joint statement with the US Secretary of State on 3 February 2009, calling for a temporary no-fire period. Copies of both statements will be placed in the Library of the House.
The UK remains committed to working with the Government of Sri Lanka and international partners to secure a lasting solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka.
Torture
Sir Malcolm Rifkind: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what factors his Department takes into account when making decisions on requests formally to espouse a legal claim of torture. [253314]
Caroline Flint: Where the Government consider that another Government is responsible under international law for an injury to a UK national, it may in certain circumstances take over and formally espouse a claim against that Government. Before that stage is reached the claimants should have made all possible effort to secure settlement of the claim through local or other legal remedies, if such remedies exist.
Any individual request would be considered on a case by case basis. On receipt of such a request, the Government would consider what factors may be relevant at that time.
Uganda: Peace Negotiations
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in peace talks with the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) in Northern Uganda, including talks with those who have recently defected from the LRA. [257351]
Caroline Flint: The Juba peace talks between the Government of Uganda and the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) resulted in a negotiated Final Peace Agreement (FPA) initialled and agreed by the Government of Uganda and LRA negotiating teams. The agreement was originally due for signature in early April 2008 by President Museveni of Uganda and Joseph Kony, the leader of the LRA, in Juba, Southern Sudan. Mr. Kony refused to attend the signing ceremony on that occasion and failed to honour further commitments to sign the agreement at a later date. The Government of Uganda in co-operation with the Governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Southern Sudan subsequently initiated military action against the LRA on 14 December 2008.
The FPA includes provision for reconciliation and the reintegration into Ugandan society of LRA defectors. The Government of Uganda has publicly stated that it is committed to honouring those commitments even in the absence of a signed FPA.
USA: Russia
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for the Government’s foreign policy of changes in US foreign policy towards Russia. [258696]
Caroline Flint: The Government welcome the Obama Administration’s readiness to make progress with Russia on non-proliferation and disarmament and other issues of importance, including Iran, security in Afghanistan and international economic reform.
The US Administration’s approach of engaging with Russia on key issues of mutual interest mirrors that of the UK. The Government will be working closely with the US Administration in this area.
Wang Bingzhang
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on (a) the detention of Dr Wang Bingzhang by the Chinese authorities and (b) the physical condition of Dr Wang Bingzhang; what representations he has made to his Chinese counterpart on the matter; and if he will make a statement. [258642]
Caroline Flint: We have received reports that Dr. Wang Bingzhang is being held in Shaoguan Prison in Guangdong Province. There have been serious concerns about his health, and he is known to have gone on hunger strike in 2006. There are also reports that he has been punished for perceived bad behaviour.
Wang’s case was last raised on an EU-China case list in October 2005.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to answer Question 242200, tabled on 5 December 2008, on Georgia. [258146]
David Miliband: This question was answered on 12 February 2009, Official Report, column 2202W. The delay in answering was due to administrative error.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to answer Question 246281, tabled on 17 December 2008, on the reorganisation of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. [258212]
David Miliband: This question was answered on 23 February 2009, Official Report, column 373W. I apologise for the delay in replying.
Zimbabwe: Human Rights
Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [258563]
Caroline Flint [holding answer 25 February 2009]: We continue to have serious concerns about the human rights situation in Zimbabwe, not least the on-going detention of political prisoners, credible reports of torture in custody and continuing suppression of peaceful protests.
The international community has agreed clear conditions for substantive re-engagement with Zimbabwe, including respect for human rights and the rule of law.
Initial indications of the new Government's commitment to respect for human rights and the rule of law include the release of political detainees. We will continue to monitor the situation on the ground closely.
Zimbabwe: Political Prisoners
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of political prisoners detained in Zimbabwe. [257817]
David Miliband: We understand there are roughly 30 to 40 political detainees in Zimbabwe. As I said in my press release of 11 February 2009, the release of all political detainees, and the rule of law more broadly, will be one of the conditions for sustained development support for the new Government.
The press release may be found at:
Justice
Anti-Semitism: Children
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) males and (b) females have been (i) prosecuted and (ii) convicted of verbally abusing Jewish children travelling to and from school in the last year for which figures are available. [259058]
Maria Eagle: Data held centrally by the Ministry of Justice on court proceedings do not include information about the circumstances behind each case beyond the description provided in the statute under which prosecutions are brought.
Civil Servants: Pay
Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many bonus payments were made to (a) senior civil servants and (b) other staff in the (i) HM Courts Service, (ii) HM Prison Service, (iii) National Offender Management Service and (iv) Youth Justice Board in the last 12 months. [257744]
Mr. Straw: The information requested is as follows:
Across the MoJ, end year non-consolidated performance payments are paid to high performing members of the senior civil service (SCS) to reflect their individual contribution during the previous performance year. During the last 12 months, 35 members of the SCS in HMCS were paid non-consolidated performance pay for performance during the 2007-08 performance year.
Payments of non-consolidated performance pay to staff below the SCS may be either "end of year" payments or "in year" payments.
“End of year" payments of non-consolidated performance pay are made as part of the annual pay award to staff who have performed at a level beyond that which would normally be expected throughout the performance year. 1,676 staff in HMCS (including Ministry of Justice HQ and the Tribunals Service) received end of year non-consolidated performance payments in the last 12 months. Payments were made in August 2008 at the time of the implementation of the 2008 pay award for performance during the 2007-08 performance year.
“In year" payments of non-consolidated performance pay are one-off payments to staff who have made an exceptional contribution on specific occasions. It is not possible to provide details of these payments made to staff in HMCS in the last 12 months, as distinct from those working in other parts of the Ministry of Justice, other than at a disproportionate cost. However, during the financial year 2007-08, 5,327 staff in HMCS (including MoJ HQ and the Tribunals Service) received “in year" non-consolidated performance pay.
Since 1 April 2008 Her Majesty's Prison Service and the National Probation Service have been part of the National Offender Management Service.
Details of the number of awards of non-consolidated performance pay to staff in HM Prison Service is available for the calendar year 2008. This is the most up-to-date data available without incurring disproportionate cost. During 2008, 29 members of the SCS received non-consolidated performance pay. In grades below the SCS 6,587 staff received non-consolidated performance pay during this period.
In the National Probation Service during the last 12 months, payments of non-consolidated performance pay were made to the chief executives of the six Probation Trusts. These exceptional payments were made to recognise work involved from April 2007 to April 2008 in preparation for trust status.
(iii) National Offender Management Service
The National Offender Management Service was established as an agency on 1 April 2008. The NOMS agency consists of HM Prison Service and the National Probation Service. The information contained in (ii) above covers both parts of the NOMS Agency.
In the 12 months to the 31st January 2009, the Youth Justice Board paid one member of the SCS non-consolidated performance pay. Thirty-five members of staff received "in year" non-consolidated performance pay. Twenty-one members of staff received "end of year" non-consolidated performance pay.
Coroners and Justice Bill 2008-09
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department will take if the Sentencing Council for England and Wales advises that there are insufficient resources to allow for the full implementation of an aspect of legislation, as provided for under the terms of clause 110 of the Coroners and Justice Bill, following the enactment of subsequent legislation. [257281]
Maria Eagle: The provisions in the Coroners and Justice Bill propose that a sentencing council will have a duty to monitor the impact of sentencing guidelines and to make assessments of the impact of Government proposals referred to it by the Lord Chancellor on prison, probation and youth justice services.
The proposed duties of the council in clauses 110 and 114 of the Bill are to make an assessment of the impact of guidelines or legislation, not to advise whether it is affordable. While it is proposed that the council will provide the Government with impact assessments it also proposed that it will remain the case that the Government alone are responsible for the way in which money voted by Parliament is spent and for making arrangements for the commencement of legislative provisions.
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to undertake a privacy impact assessment of the provisions on information sharing orders contained in the Coroners and Justice Bill. [258385]
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