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23 Mar 2009 : Column 26W—continued
The 2008-09 costs will be reduced by a transfer of £29.4 million from the FCO which includes gains from the benefits of the advanced purchase of foreign currency costs, based on estimated costs at the time of spring supplementary. Further assessed costs are attributed to the Peacekeeping Budget by the Treasury or paid in the relevant foreign currency by the MOD.
Elections: Monitoring
Mr. Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues in the Treasury and the Department for International Development on alternative sources of funding for election observation in 2009-10. [261958]
Bill Rammell: The Government's ongoing discussions on conflict-related budgets for 2009-10, which include funding for election observation missions, have been between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence. The Treasury has been consulted fully throughout. Final decisions have not yet been made in this process.
Election observation remains a priority for the FCO. We are reviewing internally spend for the next financial year.
Exchange Rates
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps will be taken to manage his Department's exposure to foreign currency movements when his Department's contract with the Bank of England to buy 80 per cent. of net US dollar and euro exposure ends. [261825]
David Miliband: To date the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has secured several contracts with the Bank of England which provide the full cover allowed for our forecast US dollar and euro net exposure up to February 2010, and partial cover over the intervening months to January 2011. HM Treasury have limited the amount of cover we can purchase to a maximum of 80 per cent. of our net foreign exchange exposure at overseas posts, but up to 100 per cent. for known commitments to international organisations.
Each month a further contract is secured with the Bank of England, to extend full cover and partial cover an additional month. Thus the March 2010 contract will secure full cover for March 2010 and partial cover over the intervening months to February 2011.
Contracts have also been secured for Japanese yen that currently extend to March 2010. Additional contracts will be purchased in due course.
Hezbollah
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Minister of State’s evidence to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on 4 March 2009, with which members of Hezbollah’s political wing the Government has made contact. [264752]
Bill Rammell: On 9 January 2009 our ambassador in Beirut accompanied a group of British parliamentarians to a meeting with the Lebanese Foreign Affairs Committee that included the Hezbollah MP, Ali Amaar.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons the Government ceased contact with both the political and military wings of Hezbollah in 2005. [264753]
Bill Rammell: The UK had contacts with some political officials in Hezbollah from 2001 to 2005 but no contacts with Hezbollah's military wing. Although previous discussions had been frank, they became increasingly insubstantial. The political contacts ended in 2005 as we judged that the conditions at the time, specifically the political stalemate of the Lebanese Government, meant that the talks were not productive enough to be worth continuing.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent of co-operation between the political and military wings of Hezbollah in seeking to commit or support acts of terrorism. [264755]
Bill Rammell: In July 2008 the decision was made by the Home Office to proscribe the military wing, which we specified as the Jihad Council and all units reporting to it. During this process a thorough assessment of all the components of Hezbollah was carried out to establish this distinction.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of reported statements by Hezbollah's leadership that there is no distinction between the organisation's political and military wings. [264756]
Bill Rammell: In July 2008 the decision was made by the Home Office to proscribe the military wing, which we specified as the Jihad Council and all units reporting to it. During this process a thorough assessment of all the components of Hezbollah was carried out to establish this distinction between those members of Hezbollah who are legitimately involved in Lebanese politics and those who are involved in violence and support terrorism. We will not have contacts with individuals whom we assess to be involved in violence.
India: Terrorism
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens were injured during the events in Mumbai on 27 November 2008; what the (a) nature and (b) severity of such injuries was; and if he will make a statement. [265057]
Bill Rammell [holding answer 20 March 2009]: Seven British nationals were seriously injured during the terrorist attacks in Mumbai in November 2008. For consular confidentiality and data protection reasons, the nature and severity of those injuries cannot be disclosed.
Iran
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the state of diplomatic relations with Iran. [265711]
Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has said many times that the UK would like to have a positive and constructive relationship with Iran—a relationship which is based on mutual respect and is not a prisoner of history. We believe that we have important shared interests in Iran's neighbourhood, including stability, security and economic development in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, we and the rest of the international community have significant and legitimate concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions, its activity in the region, and its repression of its own people. Iran must address these if our relationship is to move forward. The Iranian authorities are also responsible for unacceptable harassment of our staff in Tehran, both UK based and Iranian—pressure which has forced the British Council to suspend its operation in Iran, and which obstructs the legitimate activities of our embassy. We have raised this with the Iranian authorities on numerous occasions, and we regret that they have done nothing to address this.
Iran: Nuclear Power
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) of 5 March 2009, Official Report, column 1747W, on Iran: nuclear power, what further sanctions he has considered pursuing at the United Nations. [265786]
Bill Rammell: The E3+3 made a generous offer to Iran in June 2008. This offer remains on the table. The offer presents Iran with an opportunity to transform its relationship with the international community and enjoy many significant benefits, if it suspends its enrichment programme and negotiates.
However, in the event of Iran failing to take up this opportunity and continuing to disregard its international obligations to the UN and the International Atomic Energy Agency, we will be forced to consider further measures, including the consideration of further significant sanctions through the UN.
Iraq: Capital Punishment
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Iraqi government on the reinstatement of the death penalty in Iraq in 2004. [264693]
Bill Rammell:
The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. We continue to make our position on capital punishment clear to the Iraqi government at every opportunity both bilaterally and with the support of our EU partners. As recently as 8 March 2009 the UK joined other EU member states in supporting a démarche, delivered by the current Czech EU presidency to Iraqi vice-President Tareeq al-Hashemi and to the head of the Iraqi prime minister’s office on the proposed resumption of executions in
Iraq. We strongly supported the resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2007 (A/Res/62/149) and November 2008 (A/Res/63/168) which called upon all states that maintain the death penalty to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolition. The resolutions expressed the conviction of the majority of UN members that the use of the death penalty undermines human dignity; recalled that there is no conclusive evidence of its deterrent value; and noted that any miscarriage or failure of justice in the implementation of the death penalty is irreversible and irreparable.
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received of the Iraqi judicial authorities confirming death sentences against 128 Iraqi prisoners; and what steps his Department is taking on the matter. [264694]
Bill Rammell: Following reports of an imminent move to carry out the death sentences of 117 individuals on death row at Kadhamiyah-Max Prison in Iraq, the UK joined other EU member states in supporting a démarche against the sentences delivered on 8 March 2009 by the Czech EU presidency to Iraqi vice-president Tareeq al-Hashemi and to the head of the Iraqi Prime Minister’s office. Vice-president al-Hashemi said he had no information about the enforcement of these sentences which had been passed by the courts in full compliance with Iraqi law and the Iraqi Constitution. We will continue to pursue the Iraqi government on this matter, including making clear our position on the death penalty.
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Iraqi authorities to make public the information they hold pertaining to the 128 people who have recently had their death sentences confirmed by the Iraqi judicial authorities. [265521]
Bill Rammell: The UK joined other EU member states in supporting a demarche against the death sentences against 117 people which was delivered on 8 March 2009 by the Czech EU presidency to Iraqi Vice President Tareeq al-Hashemi and to the Head of the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office. We are asking the Iraqi Government for further information about these sentences and regularly make clear our opposition to the death penalty.
Iraq: Females
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the government of Iraq on women’s rights in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [263581]
Bill Rammell: Our officials in Baghdad regularly meet with staff from the office of the Minister for Women’s Affairs and Ministry of Human Rights. We are closely monitoring the work of the acting Minister for Women’s Affairs. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Human Rights in Iraq also raised the situation of women with senior members of the government of Iraq during a visit on 1 March 2009.
Middle East: Armed Conflict
Mr. Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2009, Official Report, column 1429W, on Middle East: armed conflict, by what methods the risks that arms could be used for internal repression or external aggression are surveyed; and what steps his Department took to gather evidence on the use of arms exports in relation to Gaza. [264704]
Bill Rammell: All arms export license applications are considered on a case by case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. This includes criteria covering internal repression and external aggression. We assess each application in the light of information received from several sources, including our embassies, non-governmental organisations and international agencies and in accordance with the EU Arms Export Users Guide, which was published in the UK’s 2007 Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the conclusions of the London Conference on the prevention of arms smuggling to Gaza. [265588]
Bill Rammell: Tackling the smuggling of arms, ammunition and weapons components to armed groups in Gaza—along with opening the crossings to legitimate goods—is an important part of improving the situation there in a sustainable way.
The London conference on 13 March 2009 built on the progress made in Copenhagen on 3-5 February 2009 and agreed a Programme of Action between the nine participating countries (Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, the UK and the US). A copy of this programme is available on the FCO website:
Middle East: Peace Negotiations
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the discussions between the Turkish Prime Minister and the Israeli Prime Minister on peace in the Middle East which took place between 1 November and 27 December 2008. [259999]
Bill Rammell: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan last met Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Turkey on 22 December 2008. The details of that meeting, and any other private conversations which may have taken place, are a matter for the governments concerned.
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the progress that has been made by Tony Blair as the Quartet representative; and if he will make a statement. [263407]
Bill Rammell: While we have not made a formal assessment, we judge that the Quartet representative and his office have made a valuable contribution to improving the situation on the ground.
Morocco: Fisheries
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 6 October 2008, Official Report, column 124W, on Morocco: fisheries, what representations the Government has made to the Moroccan government to ensure that the indigenous people of Western Sahara receive licensing revenues or aid derived from the EU-Morocco Fisheries Agreement as a result of the fishing activity of UK trawlers in the waters of the occupied Western Sahara. [264046]
Bill Rammell [holding answer 17 March 2009]: The Government maintain the position that the Government of Morocco—as the de facto administering power of Western Sahara—are obliged under international law to ensure that economic activities under administration, including the extraction and exportation of phosphates, do not adversely affect the interests of the people of Western Sahara.
Our officials in Rabat discuss a range of issues relating to the Western Sahara with their Moroccan counterparts, including when appropriate the issue of fishing revenues.
There are currently only two UK vessels operating in the waters off Western Sahara under the EU—Morocco Fisheries Agreement. All the fish caught are landed in Dakhla, Western Sahara and sold through the local markets or processed in a local factory.
Morocco: Mining
Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) of 6 October 2008, Official Report, column 228W, on Morocco: mining, what steps the Government are taking to seek to ensure that Morocco fulfils its obligations under international law to ensure that the extraction and exportation of phosphates do not adversely affect the interests of people in Western Sahara. [264941]
Bill Rammell [holding answer 20 March 2009]: The UK maintains its position that Morocco, as the de facto administering power of Western Sahara, is obliged under international law to ensure that economic activities under administration—including the extraction and exportation of phosphates—do not adversely affect the interests of the people in Western Sahara. The UK has not recently raised this issue with the Moroccan authorities.
However, the Government firmly support the principles of transparency and good governance with regards to the extractive industries generally. In November 2008, the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) held a roundtable meeting in Tunis, which included Morocco. Participants discussed the opportunities and challenges which implementing the EITI can bring for the north African region and for further enhancing resource management and economic growth.
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