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26 Mar 2009 : Column 596W—continued
Colombia: Females
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of the level of violence against women in Colombia. [265374]
Gillian Merron: Successive UN reports, and those of civil society, have detailed violence against women, including sexual violence and displacement.
Our embassy in Bogota held a round table meeting with Colombian women's organisations in October 2008 to learn more about their concerns and priorities.
We have also recently supported a UN project to improve criminal prosecution of sexual crimes committed against women and girls; and a project on human rights education for women held in Colombia's women's prisons.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of the incidence of forced abortions for women guerrilla combatants in Colombia. [265375]
Gillian Merron: Successive UN reports have detailed the forced recruitment and crimes of sexual violence against women by illegal armed groups including the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN).
It is widely documented that women combatants have been forced to have abortions. We condemn these and other activities by illegal groups, such as the recruitment of child soldiers, hostage taking, drug trafficking and the use of land mines.
Cuba: Political Prisoners
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the number of political prisoners in Cuba. [265459]
Gillian Merron: We remain concerned about the number of political prisoners in Cuba. The Government of Cuba tightly control information about their prisons so it is hard to give an accurate figure. We follow estimates from a range of sources. The latest report, in February 2009, from the non-governmental Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation estimated 205 political prisoners. Amnesty International puts the figure at 57.
The UK continues to raise concerns about political prisoners with the Cuban authorities, and did so most recently during Cuba’s universal periodic review at the UN Human Rights Council in February 2009. The UK also recommended that Cuba allow international observers into the country to review the prisons.
Departmental Manpower
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) permanent , (b) agency and (c) temporary staff on contracts of (i) up to three months, (ii) between three and six months, (iii) between six and 12 months and (iv) 12 months or more there are in each directorate of his Department. [264302]
Gillian Merron: Details of staff employment are published in the Departmental annual report, available online at
Departmental Public Consultation
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what payments for (a) polling and (b) other services his Department has made to (i) Deborah Mattinson and (ii) Opinion Leader Research Limited since 31 December 2007; and if he will make a statement. [261056]
Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has made no payments to either of these suppliers since 31 December 2007.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2009, Official Report, columns 1237-8W, on departmental public expenditure, what estimate he has made of the additional amount in sterling required to meet the UK's commitments in respect of (a) international subscriptions and (b) peacekeeping activities in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10. [261939]
David Miliband: The information is as follows:
(a) International Subscriptions
The forecast cost of the UK's international subscriptions in 2008-09 is £145.765 million (an updated figure from that quoted in my response of 2 March 2009, Official Report, column 239W, of £142.73 million).
For international subscriptions the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has a cost-sharing agreement with HM Treasury (HMT) where HMT will cover 60 per cent. of the additional funds required over £102 million. Therefore the cost to the FCO is £119.5 million, where the additional sterling required is £17.5 million.
The forecast cost of the UK's International Subscriptions in 2009-10 is £193 million (an updated figure from that quoted in my response of 2 March 2009, Official Report, column 239W, of £146 million).
Based on the agreement with HMT, the FCO's share of this cost is £138.36 million, where the additional sterling required is projected at £36.36 million. However, this figure will change depending on exchange rate movements.
The forecast cost of assessed peacekeeping costs paid in foreign currencies by the FCO in 2008-09 is £310.4 million. A detailed breakdown of this estimate is provided in response of 23 March 2009, Official Report, column 26W. The additional amount in sterling required above budget will be offset by a transfer of £29.4 million from the FCO. This transfer includes gains from the benefits of the advanced purchase of foreign currency based on estimates at the time of the Spring Supplementary.
UN peacekeeping assessed costs for 2009-10—based on current UN Security Council mandates—will not be agreed by the UN General Assembly until June 2009. However, based on our assumptions of those and other assessed costs and the advanced purchase of foreign currency so far, we have budgeted for £456 million of payments from Department for International Development/Ministry of Defence/FCO conflict funds.
Departmental Publications
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the (a) production and printing and (b) other costs to his Department of producing its most recent (i) departmental annual report and (ii) autumn performance report. [266694]
Gillian Merron: The cost of producing the 2008-09 departmental report is not yet known as we are currently finalising the budget with our supplier. It will be published in June 2009.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office autumn performance report published in December 2008 cost £370 to produce.
Diplomatic Service: Security Guards
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what diplomatic protocols govern the possession of arms by foreign nationals assigned to provide security for their nationals whilst in the UK. [264436]
Gillian Merron: The operational responsibility for protecting foreign VIPs in Great Britain lies with the Metropolitan Police. Separate arrangements are in place for Northern Ireland.
Requests received from foreign nationals to carry firearms whilst in Great Britain are referred to the Home Office who will consider the request, in the light of a risk assessment by the Metropolitan Police. If authority is granted, the foreign officers must work at all times under the direction of the Metropolitan Police when they are carrying their weapons.
Elections: Monitoring
Mr. Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the British delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on proposals to reduce his Department's budget for election observation in 2009-10. [261920]
Caroline Flint: I refer my right hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement given on 25 March 2009 by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on the Government's plans for funding conflict prevention, peacekeeping and stabilisation activity, Official Report, columns 17-19WS.
We greatly value the election observation work of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and will continue to fund this activity on an ad hoc basis.
France: Antisemitism
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on levels of anti-Semitism in France; and if he will make a statement. [263265]
Caroline Flint: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) received reports of anti-Semitic incidents in France in January 2009, following the recent conflict in Gaza.
The FCO will continue to monitor anti-Semitic activity in France and other countries.
The Government are committed to tackling and reducing anti-Semitism. We have taken a number of measures to that effect, including supporting the victims of the Holocaust (including support for Holocaust memorial day) and, through our embassies overseas, supporting parliamentarians in other countries, in their efforts to tackle anti-Semitism in their home countries.
Gaza: Weapons
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions took place between members of the Quartet on proposals to stop the flow of weapons into Gaza (a) before and (b) after the appointment of Tony Blair as Envoy. [253213]
Bill Rammell [holding answer 2 February 2009]: The Quartet has discussed a wide range of Middle East Peace Process-related issues including smuggling before and after the appointment of the Quartet representative, the right hon. Tony Blair. The Quartet’s public statements provide a summary of their discussions and are available online at:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/docs.asp?Topic=Middle%20 East&Type=Quartet%20statement
International Organisations: Finance
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2009, Official Report, columns 50-52W, how much he expects to pay in subscriptions to each international organisation from his Department’s budget in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; and if he will make a statement. [263863]
Gillian Merron [holding answer 16 March 2009]: The information is as follows:
Subscriptions to each international organisation in 2008-09
The projected costs for 2008-09 are £145.765 million. This is an updated figure from that referred to in the answer of 27 February 2009, Official Report, columns 1199W-1200W.
| (a) Subscriptions to each international organisation in 2008-09 | |
| Subscription | £000 |
Subscriptions to each international organisation in 2009-10
The projected costs for 2009-10 are £193 million but are uncertain. This is an updated figure from that referred to in the answer of 27 February 2009, Official Report, columns 1199W-1200W. The fall in the value of the sterling will have an impact on subscriptions paid in US dollars and euros.
Subscriptions to each international organisation in 2010- 11
The projected costs for 2010-11 are around £163 million but, given the time scale, this figure is even less certain than that for 2009-10. Many international organisations will not start to set their budget for 2010 (calendar year) until the end of 2009 and for 2011 (calendar year) until the end of 2010. In negotiating
with international organisations when they set their budgets, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will endeavour to limit budget increases to zero real growth.
Kosovo: Politics and Government
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution the Government plan to make to the activities of EULEX in Kosovo. [266085]
Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement of 25 March 2009, Official Report, columns 17-19WS, giving details of conflict prevention funding for the coming financial year.
The allocation for Wider Europe has been set at £33 million, from which we will contribute £2.55 million to the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX). This will fund 32 UK secondees in the mission, a reduction from the current figure of 63. In addition, through the UK's share of the overall Common Foreign and Security Policy budget we are contributing to the common costs for EULEX (€34.85 million or 17 per cent. of €205 million).
We will continue to offer EULEX our full political support in the implementation of its mandate throughout Kosovo.
Middle East: Peace Negotiations
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Senator George Mitchell on the Middle East Peace Process since his appointment as President Obama's Middle East envoy. [259923]
Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last met Senator Mitchell during his visit to Washington on 18 March 2009. They discussed a range of issues related to the Middle East Peace Process. Including the importance of having a clear peace plan based on the Arab Peace Initiative.
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary re-iterated the importance of keeping alive long-term vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in security, as an essential basis for regional stability.
NATO
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the NATO Secretary-General to discuss the NATO-EU relations; and if he will make a statement. [266894]
Caroline Flint: Effective EU-North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) relations are essential in order to deliver both capability development and effective operations on the ground. The importance of this co-operation is highlighted in the European Security Strategy and in NATO's Comprehensive Political Guidance.
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed EU-NATO relations with the NATO Secretary-General during their meeting in London on September 18, 2008. In addition, EU-NATO co-operation is regularly discussed at NATO Foreign Ministers' meetings, the last of which
was on 5 March 2009. The December 2008 Foreign Ministers' Communiqué also made clear that NATO and the EU share common values and strategic interests, and will continue to work side by side.
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