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3 Mar 2009 : Column 1413W—continued
Middle East: Armed Conflict
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had discussions with his Turkish counterpart on Gaza since the last meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. [260000]
Caroline Flint: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed Gaza with his Turkish counterpart since the World Economic Forum in Davos. However, this remains an issue of ongoing concern and we would expect to engage with Turkey when the opportunity arises.
I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 February 2009, Official Report, column 2008W.
Pakistan: Christianity
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of (a) closures of churches in Pakistan and (b) the treatment of Christians in that country; what recent representations he has made to the government of Pakistan on the matter; and if he will make a statement. [259539]
Bill Rammell: We have not received reports of closures of churches in Pakistan. Our officials in London and in Islamabad regularly meet with representatives of civil society and human rights organisations to monitor the treatment of minorities and inform our policy more widely. During these discussions, the closure of churches in Pakistan has not been raised as a concern.
With our EU partners, we regularly raise our concerns over the situation of christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan. We have called for the government of Pakistan to promote tolerance, take measures to protect freedom of religion or belief and repeal or reform discriminatory blasphemy legislation.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have also met with organisations representing minority groups in Pakistan and have raised human rights concerns with the Government of Pakistan.
Roy Bennett
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to seek the release of Roy Bennett, designated Deputy Minister of Agriculture on the National Unity Government of Zimbabwe to (a) the government of Zimbabwe, (b) other states in the region and (c) international organisations; and if he will make a statement. [258839]
Gillian Merron: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in his statement of 11 February 2009 called for the immediate release of all political detainees. Our officials made clear to the Zimbabwean embassy in London our concerns about detainees on 16 February 2009 including Roy Bennett.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) brokered the power-sharing agreement, and has responsibility for supporting its implementation. We will continue to work closely with SADC, EU partners and the international community to capitalise on this opportunity to promote reform and human rights in Zimbabwe.
The statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 11 February 2009 is available for viewing at the following internet address:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/newsroom/latest-news/?view= PressS&id=13462857
Sri Lanka: Armed Conflict
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had recent discussions with representatives of the Sri Lankan government on (a) the prevention of civilian casualties and (b) protection for displaced people in Sri Lanka. [258466]
Bill Rammell: When my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary telephoned President Rajapakse on 30 January 2009, they discussed the humanitarian situation. He made clear our concerns over the civilians caught up in the fighting in northern Sri Lanka.
In a statement on 2 February 2009, which is available for viewing on the internet at:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/newsroom/latest-news/?view= PressS&id=13166258,
he urged both the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers Tamil of Eelam to respond appropriately to the deteriorating humanitarian situation, in particular by allowing the wounded to receive medical treatment; civilians to leave the conflict area; and unrestricted access for humanitarian agencies.
We continue to raise these issues with the Sri Lankan Government at the highest level.
Sri Lanka: Religious Freedom
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Sri Lankan government on the provisions of the Prohibition of Forcible Conversions Bill restricting religious conversions. [254830]
Bill Rammell [holding answer 9 February 2009]: We have expressed our concern over religious freedoms to the Sri Lankan Minister of Human Rights and Disaster Management through our high commission in Colombo.
We will continue to raise our concerns over the Prohibition of Forcible Conversions Bill and any other legislation that reduces freedoms protected by international human rights law with the Sri Lankan Government.
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had recent discussions with representatives of the Sri Lankan government on freedom of religious expression in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement. [258467]
Bill Rammell: Our high commission in Colombo recently expressed our concerns over religious freedoms to the Sri Lankan Minister of Human Rights and Disaster Management.
In addition, in a statement on 23 February 2009, the EU expressed its concern about a draft Bill relating to religious freedoms, which is currently awaiting further discussion in the Sri Lankan Parliament. We will continue to raise our concerns with the Sri Lankan Government about any legislation that reduces freedoms protected by international human rights law.
Terrorism: Finance
Mr. Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the Prime Minister’s Statement of 14 November 2007, Official Report, columns 667-72, on national security, what the breakdown is of the £400 million to be spent to tackle radicalisation and promote understanding overseas in each of the next three years by each Government department involved; and if he will make a statement. [258918]
Bill Rammell: The actual figure invested through Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), British Council and the Department for International Development (DFID) to tackle radicalisation and promote understanding overseas during the period 2008-11 is approximately £386 million.
Working with partner Departments, the FCO leads on co-ordinating HMG PREVENT activity overseas, including prioritisation of funding against agreed objectives. The individual Departments’ contributions over the three year period are approximately:
FCO—£80 million
DFID—£300 million (exact sum will be determined by assessment of the underlying drivers of poverty, exclusion and radicalisation in relevant countries)
British Council—£6 million
Tibet: Politics and Government
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with his Chinese counterpart on the status of Tibet in the last 12 months. [259926]
Bill Rammell: Over the last 12 months, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has discussed the status of Tibet with Foreign Minister Yang on a number of occasions. The issue was discussed during the Foreign Secretary’s visit to Beijing in February 2008 and again while they were in New York for the UN General Assembly in September 2008.
The status of Tibet was also discussed when the Foreign Secretary was in China for the Asia-Europe meeting in October 2008, and most recently when the Foreign Secretary met Foreign Minister Yang in London on 1 February 2009 at the UK-China summit. During these meetings, the Foreign Secretary emphasised that the current political difficulties in Tibet can best be resolved through dialogue between the Chinese Government and the representatives of the Dalai Lama.
Turkey: Kurds
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his (a) Turkish and (b) Iraqi counterpart on the situation of Kurdish people in (i) Turkey and (ii) Iraq in the last 12 months. [259997]
Bill Rammell: Iraq’s and in particular the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) relationship with Turkey has greatly improved over recent months and continues to progress positively. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has raised with Turkish Foreign Minister Mr. Babacan the issues faced by the Kurdish population in Turkey’s south-east in the context of its fight against terrorism. We have strongly encouraged an improvement in dialogue between Turkey and the KRG authorities to reach a co-ordinated approach to address the complex socio-economic issues of Turkey’s south-east region. The Turkish Government has announced a comprehensive package to address these.
During his recent visit to Iraq and on previous meetings with the Iraqi leadership, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary also discussed the continuing efforts of reconciliation among the various communities within Iraq, including the Kurdish population. We continue to encourage both Arab and Kurdish leadership in Iraq to overcome their differences and compromise on issues of national importance.
United States: Visits Abroad
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times he has visited (a) the United States, (b) Paris and (c) India on official business in the last 12 months. [259536]
Gillian Merron: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has visited the US five times, Paris four times and India once on official business in the last 12 months.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to respond to Question 253469, tabled by the hon. Member for Hendon on 27 January 2009 for named day answer on 2 February 2009, on casualties from fighting in Sri Lanka. [258909]
Gillian Merron: Question 253497 was answered on 26 February 2009, Official Report, column 954W.
Zimbabwe: Asylum
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to ensure the payment of pensions to former Zimbabwean public servants now residing in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [258266]
Gillian Merron: We are concerned about the non-payment of pensions by the Zimbabwean authorities, who have long been failing on their legal commitment to pay the pensions of former employees of the Southern Rhodesian Government and other Zimbabwean pensioners.
We are aware of the severe difficulties this causes to former Zimbabwean public servants now residing in the UK and will continue to remind the Zimbabwean authorities of their legal commitment.
Treasury
Banks
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) subsidiaries and (b) branches each bank regulated by the Financial Services Authority has in (i) Jersey, (ii) Isle of Man, (iii) Guernsey, (iv) the Cayman Islands, (v) the Bahamas and (vi) Bermuda. [259375]
Ian Pearson: The Treasury does not collect or hold this information.
Banks: Finance
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the Dutch government on a contribution from them towards the financial assistance provided by the UK Government to (a) ABN Amro and (b) other Dutch banks via their parent companies in the UK. [259131]
Ian Pearson: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations and international partners. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of all such meetings.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he plans to have with his counterparts in other governments on contributions from them towards the financial assistance provided to banks from their countries by the UK Government. [259132]
Ian Pearson: The current financial crises are global problems and require international, as well as domestic, solutions. The UK Authorities have been heavily involved in work at both EU and international level to enhance the stability and resilience of the global financial system.
The Government will continue to work in close co-operation with international partners.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what proportion of the capital provided from UK Government funds via UK Financial Investments Ltd to Royal Bank of Scotland has been used to provide additional capital to ABN Amro; [259133]
(2) what proportion of the capital provided from UK Government funds via UK Financial Investments Ltd to Lloyds HBOS has been used to provide capital to its overseas subsidiaries; [259134]
(3) what proportion of the capital provided from UK Government funds via UK Financial Investments Ltd to Royal Bank of Scotland has been used to provide capital to its overseas subsidiaries. [259124]
Ian Pearson: Under the recapitalisation scheme announced on 8 October 2008, the Government have invested £19.97 billion in Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (RBS) and £16.96 billion in Lloyds TSB Group plc (Lloyds) and Halifax Bank of Scotland plc (HBOS). The recapitalisation agreements are between the Treasury and RBS, Lloyds and HBOS respectively.
It is a matter for each group to deploy capital where needed to support their businesses.
Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much public money is invested in fossil fuel exploration, transportation and generation through UK Financial Investments’ shareholdings in (a) Royal Bank of Scotland, (b) Lloyds TSB/Halifax Bank of Scotland, (c) Northern Rock and (d) Bradford and Bingley. [260453]
Ian Pearson: It is a matter for each of these companies’ management to release specific business updates or provide any required disclosures in their audited annual report and accounts.
The Government’s investments are managed on a commercial basis by UK Financial Investments Ltd. (UKFI), a company which is wholly owned by the Government. Its overarching objectives are to protect and create value for the taxpayer as a shareholder, with due regard to financial stability and acting in a way that promotes competition.
Child Care Vouchers: Self-employed
Mrs. Maria Miller: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to encourage the use of child care vouchers by people who are self-employed. [260055]
Mr. Timms: Child care vouchers are not available to self-employed persons. Employer supported child care is reliant upon arrangements made between an employer and employee. Self employed persons can receive assistance with child care costs via the child care element of working tax credits, subject to the level of household income.
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