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9 Mar 2009 : Column 50W—continued
International Organisations: Finance
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in respect of which international organisations the United Kingdom's subscriptions are paid from the budget of his Department; and how much was paid in subscription to each such organisation in each of the last five years. [254886]
Gillian Merron: The published Resource Accounts of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office provide this information on an annual basis, identifying individual organisations where subscriptions exceed one million pounds per annum. Identifying individual subscriptions paid to international organisations under one million pounds per annum would incur a disproportionate cost. A summary of the information for the last five complete financial years is as follows:
| £000 | |||||
| International organisation | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 |
Iran: Foreign Relations
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the statement by the UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations broadcast on 21 February on the responsibility of the Iranian government for the deaths of British service personnel in Iraq, what representations were made to the Iranian government at the time this knowledge came into the possession of the British Government; what other actions were (a) considered and (b) implemented at the time; and if he will make a statement. [258826]
Bill Rammell: We have been aware for some time of Iranian interference in Iraq and in particular Iran’s provision of lethal aid to Iraqi militia groups. We have evidence to suggest that a significant proportion of the equipment and armaments used by insurgents against our forces in Iraq was of Iranian origin, or had been transited through Iran.
As Iraq’s neighbour Iran should have an important role in helping to build a stable and secure Iraq, but instead Iran is undermining stability by supplying weapons, funding and training to militia groups and through political interference and bribery. This action only serves to undermine security in Iraq and should not be tolerated. Both the Government and the Iraqi Government have raised Iranian interference in Iraq with the Iranian authorities on many occasions. We and the Government of Iraq will continue to send strong messages that it is not in Iran’s interest to destabilise southern Iraq.
Kurdistan Workers Party
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received from the Kurdistan Workers Party on the situation in Turkey. [260895]
Caroline Flint: None. The Kurdistan Workers Party (also known as PKK, Kongra Gel, KGK and Kadek) is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK and the EU. The UK rejects the use of violence and terrorism to achieve political aims.
The UK encourages Turkey to implement a comprehensive package to address the economic, political and social situation of its people in the South East of Turkey.
Russia: Press Freedom
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how frequently he meets managers at the BBC World Service; at how many such meetings the political and media environment in Russia has been discussed; and what information his Department provides to the BBC World Service on developments in such environments. [259370]
Caroline Flint: The BBC World Service and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have a formal cycle of business meetings, which include quarterly meetings between the FCO Director of Communications and the Director, BBC World Service; a programme of regional reviews; an annual meeting between the BBC chairman and the FCO Minister responsible for public diplomacy; and quarterly public diplomacy Board meetings; as well as informal day to day contact. The political and media environment in Russia has been discussed at a number of these meetings.
Sri Lanka: Armed Conflict
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment is of the military capability of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. [254630]
Bill Rammell: Due to the ongoing military hostilities and the lack of independent information emerging from northern Sri Lanka, it is difficult to obtain accurate information on the current capabilities of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
In a statement of 3 February 2009, the Tokyo Co-Chairs (EU, US, Japan and Norway) made clear their view that there remains probably only a short period of time before the LTTE loses control of all areas in the north.
We remain seriously concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka and the impact on civilians.
Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the reported bombardment of designated safe zones in the Mullaitivu district by the Government of Sri Lanka in relation to international humanitarian law. [260156]
Bill Rammell: The on-going military hostilities and the lack of independent information make it difficult to verify reports coming from the conflict in northern Sri Lanka. In a joint statement of 3 February 2009 with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary urged all parties not to fire into or out of the “safe zone”. As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has made clear, we condemn the killing of civilians in the strongest possible terms and have urged all parties to the conflict in Sri Lanka to adhere to international humanitarian law and to take action to avoid civilian casualties.
St Helena: Visits Abroad
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the most recent occasion was on which a Government Minister visited the territory of St. Helena; and when a ministerial visit will next take place. [259409]
Gillian Merron: We are not aware of any ministerial visits to St. Helena in recent times and there are currently no plans for such a visit to take place. St. Helena is only accessible by sea with travel to and from London taking a minimum of fourteen days.
Torture
Sir Malcolm Rifkind: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 17 July 2008, Official Report, columns 682-23W, on British nationality: torture, what consideration his Department has given to breaking down collated data into specific details of alleged mistreatment; and what consideration his Department has given to collating records prior to April 2005. [253461]
Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have considered keeping statistics for different types of mistreatment. However in view of the wide range of allegations and the difficulties in classifying individual incidents it was concluded that this exercise would not add meaningful value to the records already held.
Given that no records were collated prior to 1 April 2005 examining the large number of individual case files to collate records would incur a disproportionate cost.
Turkey: Human Rights
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Turkey on Turkish compliance with the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Varnava and others on persons who disappeared following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974; and if he will make a statement. [261009]
Caroline Flint: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not raised any missing persons cases recently with his Turkish interlocutors.
The Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus carries out important humanitarian work, identifying and returning the remains of those who lost their lives during this
period. We attach great importance to its work and welcome the progress of the committee since its launch in August 2006. The UK contributes to the funding of the programme annually through the EU and through bilateral donations.
Turks and Caicos Islands: Politics and Government
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the political situation in the Turks and Caicos Islands; and if he will make a statement. [260017]
Gillian Merron: On 28 February 2009 Sir Robin Auld, who is leading the Commission of Inquiry into allegations of corruption and other serious dishonesty in relation to members of the Turks and Caicos Islands House of Assembly, submitted an interim report to the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The interim report is wide ranging and the Governor has said he will need time to reflect on the recommendations and consult UK Ministers before he can make an announcement. He expects this process to take around three weeks.
Wales
Departmental Detergents
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to ensure that no cleaning products or ingredients of cleaning products used by his Department have been tested on animals. [261118]
Mr. Paul Murphy: No cleaning products, or ingredients contained within them, used in my Department have been tested on animals.
Departmental Press
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department has spent on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in each year since 1997. [261249]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The cost of newspapers, magazines and periodicals is recorded alongside the cost of all publications and could not be identified separately.
Departmental Rail Travel
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the cost to his Department was of travel by train by its staff in each year since 1997. [261250]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Having to support all functions from offices in both Cardiff and London, the Wales Office incurs considerable travelling costs. The figures requested are:
| £ | |
We do not hold the details requested for previous years.
Departmental Surveys
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent by his Department on staff surveys in 2008; and which companies were contracted to carry out the surveys. [260916]
Mr. Paul Murphy: During 2008 the Wales Office participated in one staff opinion survey undertaken by the Ministry of Justice.
There was no cost to the Wales Office.
Public Opinion
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what expenditure has been incurred by his Department on (a) opinion polling, (b) focus groups and (c) other forms of market research in each year since 1997; what such surveys were commissioned; and what the purpose was of each. [261248]
Mr. Paul Murphy: My Department has not conducted any opinion polling, focus groups or market research since 1999.
Trade Unions
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which trade unions are recognised in his Department. [262082]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The Wales Office recognises the following trade unions:
PCS (the Public and Commercial Services Union); and
FDA (the First Division Association).
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