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12 Mar 2009 : Column 617W—continued
Mr. Hutton:
The submarine Emergency Operating Procedure (EOP) in the event of a dived collision starts with an immediate and swift check of essential systems
by the ship control watch keepers. This is followed by a sequence of thorough damage control checks throughout the submarine. This EOP is routinely exercised by submarine crews during training, in shore simulators and at sea. I can confirm that the UK's deterrent capability has remained unaffected at all times and there has been no compromise to nuclear safety.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department (a) implemented the procedures in the Regulation of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programme JSP 518 for berthing a submarine with a significant defect and (b) informed the Health and Safety Executive prior to berthing HMS Vanguard at Coulport on 14 February 2009. [262629]
Mr. Hutton: The procedures in JSP518 are applicable in the event of a significant nuclear defect; this was not the situation for HMS Vanguard. There was therefore no requirement to inform the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prior to berthing HMS Vanguard, as this was done in accordance with the safety case for the facility at the Royal Naval Armament Depot Coulport. Subsequently, as a matter of courtesy, the HSE was informed.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to prepare and approve a specific safety case for the docking and repair of HMS Vanguard in the Faslane shiplift; and what the timescale for completing this safety case is. [262630]
Mr. Hutton: There is no requirement to prepare a specific safety case as the docking and repair of HMS Vanguard is within the scope of the existing Facility Safety Case. A Facility Safety Case is the suite of documentation that justifies operations at a specific facility.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Algeria: Human Rights
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made any representations to the Algerian government on the welfare of the six individuals deported to that country since 2006 on national security grounds; and whether he plans to make representations on the welfare of those individuals. [262577]
Bill Rammell: Eight Algerian nationals have returned to Algeria voluntarily under the terms of the exchange of letters signed by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and President Bouteflika in 2006. The exchange of letters allows for individuals deported or voluntarily returned under its terms (and their families) to maintain contact with our embassy in Algiers. Our embassy initiated contact with the individuals proactively immediately following their return to Algeria. In 2007 our ambassador wrote to the Algerian authorities regarding four returnees who had been detained.
The returnees and their families retain the right to contact our embassy at any time. None has done so recently. Further contact with the Algerian authorities will be on a case by case basis.
Cayman Islands: Illegal Immigrants
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to prevent illegal immigration into the Cayman Islands. [260712]
Gillian Merron: Illegal immigration from Cuba continues to be a serious problem for the Cayman Islands. Although the responsibility for immigration matters has been devolved to the local government we continue to support and encourage their relationship with the Government of Cuba to implement the memorandum of understanding which covers the repatriation of Cuban migrants. The Cayman Islands Government also have a mass migration contingency plan in place.
In February 2009 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office co-funded a workshop in the Cayman Islands for Regional Heads of Immigration Services from other Caribbean Overseas Territories, independent Caribbean countries and the US. In addition the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service has taken delivery of four new marine vessels which will allow their borders to be patrolled more effectively.
Cayman Islands: Overseas Residence
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens took up residence in the Cayman Islands in each of the last five years. [260711]
Gillian Merron: The Cayman Islands Department of Immigration collates new residence statistics by country of origin. They have provided the following figures for new residents from the United Kingdom:
| Number | |
Central Africa: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of (a) the effectiveness of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad and (b) its ability to protect civilians in Chad; and if he will make a statement. [261923]
Gillian Merron: The main role of the UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) is to select, train and advise the Détachement intégré de sécurité (DIS). The DIS are Chadian police who are designated to provide rule of law in and around refugee and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
The first group of 29 DIS officers were deployed to eastern Chad on 24 October 2008. Deployments are
ongoing, with 563 officers currently patrolling the camps. However, we judge that it is still too early to make a thorough assessment of the effect of the DIS in protecting civilians in Chad.
EUFOR, the EU military mission accompanying MINURCAT, has contributed to the protection of civilians by providing greater security in the region, thereby allowing others to carry out the effective delivery of humanitarian aid. As set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1861, MINURCAT will now be expanded to include a military component, which will replace EUFOR on 15 March 2009.
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad to reach the full mandated strength authorised by UN Security Council Resolution 1861. [261924]
Gillian Merron: UN Security Council Resolution 1861 provides for the transfer of authority from the European Union force in the Central African Republic and Chad (EUFOR) to the military component of the UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) on 15 March 2009. Force generation for the MINURCAT military component is still on-going. The UN Secretary-General will update the UN Security Council on the progress of the mission, including troop levels, every three months.
Colombia: Human Rights
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Colombian government on human rights. [262701]
Gillian Merron: We make regular representations to the Colombian government on human rights, reflecting our deep concern. I discussed human rights with Foreign Minister Bermudez and Vice President Santos in November 2008; and on a number of recent occasions with Colombia's ambassador to the UK. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised human rights concerns with Foreign Minister Bermudez in October 2008, and our ambassador in Bogota maintains regular dialogue with senior Colombian Ministers and officials on human rights issues.
Colombia: Military Aid
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department provides (a) funding and (b) training for counter-narcotics work in Colombia. [262578]
Gillian Merron: We do not disclose details of our bilateral training in the field of counter-narcotics in Colombia, as to do so would endanger the security of the UK and Colombian personnel involved, and undermine the effectiveness of that work.
We support a number of projects on counter narcotics in Colombia and elsewhere in the Latin American region that are implemented by the UN Office on Drugs and
Crime (UNODC). The Foreign and Commonwealth Office supports the following recent or ongoing UNODC projects in Colombia:
(i) Expanding regional legal assistance programmes (multi-year 2007-10)
(ii) Training against money laundering (2007-08)
(iii) Best practices in trials and investigation (multi-year 2007-09)
(iv) Colombia/Venezuela border (multi-year 2008-09)
(v) Risk of money laundering in commerce and trade (multi-year 2009-11)
(vi) Regional criminal justice sector reform (multi-year 2009-12)
(vii) Implementation of best practices in civil asset forfeiture (Colombia/Peru) (2009)
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) vetting and (b) recording of data is undertaken (i) prior to and (ii) during the training of Colombian military officers who receive training from UK personnel. [262583]
Gillian Merron: The monitoring of the human rights or other performance of individual Colombian military personnel is the responsibility of the Colombian armed forces.
Our embassy in Bogota keeps a record of Colombian security force personnel who receive UK training, whether in counter-narcotics, human rights or humanitarian demining, in case information emerged to suggest that they subsequently become involved in human rights abuses. No such information has emerged to date.
Disclosing the details of the record held by our embassy could endanger the lives of those involved.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of the High Mountain Battalion of the Colombian Army have received UK training in each year since 1999. [262584]
Gillian Merron: The UK does not provide training to whole units such as the High Mountain Battalion of the Colombian army. It is not possible to identify individuals trained by the UK or by UN programmes part-funded by the UK, who have gone on to serve in particular divisions of the Colombian armed forces.
I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 25 November 2008, Official Report, columns 1197-98W, for further information on Colombian security forces personnel who receive UK training.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Colombian military personnel who have received UK training are subsequently monitored for any human rights abuses they commit. [263145]
Gillian Merron: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 25 November 2008, Official Report, columns 1197-98W.
Democratic Republic of Congo: Mining
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2009, Official Report, column 1522W, on Democratic Republic of Congo: mining, which other UK companies are involved in the exportation of minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo. [262038]
Gillian Merron: We do not maintain a list of the UK companies currently involved in exporting minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The UK companies whose involvement in this sector is known to us are Central African Mining and Exploration Company and Katanga Mining. Afrimex has informed us that it is no longer engaged in this trade. We continue to encourage UK companies trading in natural resources from DRC to do so in a way that is socially, economically and environmentally responsible, and to adhere to the voluntary guidelines set out by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The UK is working with our partner governments to identify ways of promoting good practice in this sector.
Democratic Republic of Congo: War Crimes
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 5 March 2009, Official Report, column 1745W, on Democratic Republic of Congo: war crimes, on what dates his officials have met representatives of the Congolese Government to discuss the indictment of Bosco Ntaganda; and whether further such meetings are planned. [263232]
Gillian Merron: Our ambassador discussed the question of the warrant for Bosco Ntaganda's arrest with the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) Minister of Foreign Affairs at a meeting on 21 January 2009. Our representatives will raise the issue in future high-level exchanges with DRC Ministers and officials.
Departmental Art Works
Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which works of art from the Government Art Collection each Minister in his Department has selected for display in a private office. [259447]
Gillian Merron: Works of art currently in display in Private Offices within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are as follows:
Richard Cosway: James Seton, Vice Admiral; Governor of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 1787-1798—oil painting
Francis Grant: Sir Henry Pottinger (1789-1856) Governor of Hong Kong—oil painting
Joseph Nollekens: William Pitt (1759-1806) Prime Minister—marble bust
L Alfred Brunet-Debaines: Houses of Parliament—engraving
Edwin Whitney-Smith: Ernest Bevin (1881-1951) trade unionist and politician—bronze sculpture
Anon British 18C: View of Horse Guards, showing New Horse Guards —oil painting
Caroline Flint: (works inherited from predecessor)
William George Gillies: Peeblesshire Landscape—oil painting
John Everett Millais: Hubert von Herkomer—Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield (1804-81) Prime Minister
John Davies: Sand Dunes, Maghara, Co. Donegal—photograph
Donald McIntyre: Crail, Fife—acrylic painting
Victor Pasmore: Hear the Sound of a Magic Tune - 3/25—screen print
William Scott: Cup and Pan Blues 99/100—screen print
Patrick Caulfield:Signature Pots 31/70—screen print
R B Kitaj: The Congo and other Poems - In Our Time: Covers for a Small Library After the Life for the Most Part: 37/150—screen print
R B Kitaj: Benia Krik: In Our Time: Covers for a Small Library After the Life for the Most Part - 37/150 —screen print
Molly Guion: The Queen's Beasts—Oil painting
John Terence Holden: Homage—acrylic painting
Graham Sutherland: L'Elephant [The Elephant] "Le Bestiaire, ou Cortege d'Orphee" by Apollinaire 3/75—etching|aquatint
Gillian Merron - (works inherited from predecessor)
Thomas Picken: View of the Harbour, St. George's, Grenada, West Indies—lithograph
William Simpson: View of the Town and Harbour, St. George's, Grenada, West Indies—lithograph
John Latham:Tadpole-Taffrail (Five Photo Etchings) 20/30—etching
John Latham: Boy-Girl (Five Photo Etchings) 20/30—etching
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