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31 Mar 2009 : Column 1109W—continued
Afghanistan: Politics and Government
Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [267771]
Bill Rammell: Afghanistan remains one of the UK's top foreign policy priorities. The key political focus for Afghanistan in 2009 is the Presidential and Provincial Council elections which will take place on 20 August 2009. We are actively working in support of the Afghans, the UN and the International Security Assistance Force to help ensure these elections are successful. Voter registration has been successfully completed with over three million names added to the existing register.
Arms Trade: Exports
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2009, Official Report, column 354W, on arms trade: exports, what assessment he has made of the compliance of UK legislation with the operational requirements of the EU Common Position on defining common rules governing the control of exports of military technology and equipment as set out in Articles 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 13; and if he will make a statement. [258643]
Bill Rammell: The UK is in a position to implement the Common Position, and will not require any change to UK Legislation to comply with its operational requirements. However, the Statutory Guidance contained within the Export Control Act 2002 still refers to the language in the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. Statutory Guidance is currently being amended to reflect the adoption of the Common Position.
Bahrain: Human Rights
Mr. Purchase: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the human rights situation in Bahrain; and if he will make a statement. [267973]
Bill Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office receives reporting on the human rights situation in Bahrain from a range of non-governmental organisations and interested parties including the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights and the Bahrain Society. An example of this would be the report of Bahrain's Universal Periodic Review by the UN Human Rights Office which is available online at:
Our embassy in Bahrain engages with human rights organisations, such as article 19, and regularly reports on the human rights situation.
Belarus
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2009, Official Report, column 21W, whether the President of Belarus will be invited to attend the Eastern Partnership summit in May. [267443]
Caroline Flint: The issue of whether to invite President Lukashenko to the Eastern Partnership summit in May 2009 has not yet been decided. EU member states will be discussing this issue shortly.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Politics and Government
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and what recent discussions on the matter have taken place at EU level. [266824]
Caroline Flint: The Government remain concerned about the current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and endorse the conclusions of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Steering Board meeting on 25/26 March 2009. Despite some progress in addressing the conditionality for closure of the Office of the High Representative (OHR), the PIC Steering Board expressed concern about political developments in BiH since it last convened in November 2008. I will place a copy of the PIC communiqué in the House Library.
The current political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina was discussed by EU Foreign Ministers at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 16 March 2009, which called upon BiH political leaders to engage with stronger determination on the reform agenda and to refrain from nationalist rhetoric. I will place a copy of the relevant General Affairs and External Relations Council conclusions in the House Library.
EU Foreign Ministers also discussed BiH, as part of a broader discussion of the western Balkans, at their informal Gymnich meeting on 28 March 2009.
British Council: Finance
Mr. Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2009, Official Report, column 778W, on British Council: finance, if he will publish details of the professional evaluation in place to monitor the British Council’s Reconnect Programme. [267425]
Caroline Flint [holding answer 27 March 2009]: The British Council’s Reconnect programme will be evaluated according to its ongoing monitoring and evaluation processes. The outcome of the British Council’s programme and project evaluation is aggregated and published in the organisation’s annual report.
Conflict Prevention
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 25 March 2009, Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, what the Government's expenditure on conflict resources in financial year 2008-09 was; and what proportion of this total was spent through the (a) Conflict Prevention Pool, (b) Stabilisation Aid Fund and (c) Treasury Reserve for Peacekeeping. [267720]
Bill Rammell: The UK’s total conflict resource envelope for 2008-09 (leaving aside the cost of UK military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq) was set at the time of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) at £559 million: £112 million Conflict Prevention Pool; £73 million Stabilisation Aid Fund; £374 million Peacekeeping Budget (PKB)—although the PKB is an annual draw on the Treasury Reserve rather than part of the CSR settlement).
Mr. Moore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 25 March 2009, Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, what changes have been made to the funding
for thematic programmes; what proportion of this funding will be allocated to (a) security sector reform advisory, (b) peacekeeping training, (c) defence education in priority countries and (d) the United Nations' Rule of Law Unit; and if he will make a statement. [267729]
Bill Rammell: The Strategic Support to International Organisations Programme (SSIO) will merge the existing Conflict Prevention Pool International Capacity Building and Security and Small Arms Control Programmes. Of the total £6.5 million allocated to SSIO (a) £1,883,000 (28.9 per cent.) has been allocated to security sector reform advisory, (b) £950,000 (14.6 per cent.) has been allocated to UK peacekeeping training, (c) £1,000,000 (15.3 per cent.) for defence education, and (d) £100,000 (1.5 per cent.) to the UN's Rule of Law Unit from of a total £2,069,000 (31.8 per cent.) of support to the UN Secretariat. Additionally there is an element of £408,000 (6.2 per cent.) for support to strategic secondments to international organisations and a contingency element of £190,000 (2.9 per cent.).
Departmental Public Appointments
Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which former (a) Members of the House of Lords and (b) hon. Members who have left Parliament since 1997 have been appointed to public bodies for which his Department is responsible; and who made each such appointment. [267853]
EU Countries: Overseas Residence
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the adequacy of consular and other support provided to British citizens who are detained in other EU jurisdictions. [267606]
Caroline Flint: Consular staff provide assistance to British nationals detained overseas, including within the EU. Our role is primarily one of welfare. We aim to contact British nationals within 24 hours of hearing of their detention. If they wish us to, consular staff will also visit them as soon as possible. We are always ready to look at ways we might improve the service we provide still further and welcome feedback.
Falkland Islands: Fisheries
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much revenue has been derived from the sale of fishing licences in the Falkland Islands in the last five years. [266949]
Gillian Merron: The responsibility for the sale of fishing licences lies with the Falkland Islands Government. The Falkland Islands Government fisheries department supplied the following figures:
| Financial year | £ million |
Figures for the year ending 30 June 2009 have yet to be finalised.
Falkland Islands: Natural Resources
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made in oil exploration and hydrocarbon development in the Falkland Islands. [266948]
Gillian Merron: The Falkland Islands Government are entitled to develop their hydrocarbon resources within their exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the Government continue to support this. The Government last year approved the Falkland Islands Government’s request to resume Open Door licensing for offshore oil exploration and production in five blocks. Companies have completed 2D, 3D and, in some cases Controlled Source Electro Magnetic surveys in preparation for drilling exploration wells. They have also conducted environmental surveys to assist with the preparation of environmental impact assessments that require approval before exploratory drilling consent is given.
Germany: Anti-Semitism
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of incidents of anti-Semitism in Germany since December 2008; and if he will make a statement. [266993]
Caroline Flint: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not received any official reports of anti-Semitism in Germany since December 2008.
G20
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which of his overseas counterparts has (a) accepted, (b) declined and (c) not yet reported to reply to an invitation to attend the G20 Summit. [265863]
Bill Rammell: At present, I expect all of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s counterparts who have been invited to the London G20 summit to attend events on the 1 and 2 of April 2009.
Hezbollah
Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria the Government use to distinguish between Hezbollah's political and military wings. [268154]
Bill Rammell: The Government distinguish between those parts of Hezbollah which are legitimately involved in Lebanese politics and those who are actively concerned in terrorism.
Since July 2008 the “military wing of Hezbollah, including the Jihad council and all units reporting to it (including the Hezbollah external security organisation)” has been proscribed as being concerned in terrorism, as set out in the Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) (No.2) Order 2008.
Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on policy on withdrawal of coalition forces from Iraq. [267614]
Bill Rammell: The draw-down of UK combat troops from Iraq will begin on 31 May 2009, and will be completed by 31 July. The draw-down, which has been agreed with the Iraqi Government, represents a fundamental change of mission as we move to a normal bilateral defence assistance relationship.
From 31 July 2009 we will retain up to 400 troops focused on training and mentoring their Iraqi counterparts.
The US has its own plans, as do other Coalition allies.
Kosovo: Politics and Government
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on a lasting resolution of the political status of Kosovo. [266721]
Caroline Flint: 56 states have now recognised Kosovo as an independent sovereign state, including the UK and 21 other EU member states. Discussions in the EU around the time of independence concluded that the decision to recognise Kosovo’s independence is one for individual states to make, not the EU as a whole. Therefore, there have been no recent discussions on Kosovo’s political status.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects Operation EULEX to reach full operational capacity. [266815]
Caroline Flint: The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) has been increasing its presence across Kosovo since reaching initial operation capability on 9 December 2008. The head of mission, General Yves de Kermabon, aims to achieve full operational capability, the point at which EULEX is fully carrying out its mandate, in the coming weeks.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make an assessment of public perceptions of Operation EULEX held by residents of Kosovo. [266823]
Caroline Flint: The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) deployed in Kosovo in December 2008 at the invitation of the Government of Kosovo and with their full support. We assess that most Kosovo residents support EULEX and its mandate to strengthen the rule of law in Kosovo. However, there is not yet any detailed independent evidence on public perceptions of the mission. The Government support EULEX in the full implementation of its mandate, including its engagement with all communities throughout Kosovo.
Madagascar: Politics and Government
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps the Government has taken to monitor the political situation in Madagascar. [266092]
Gillian Merron: Our high commission in Port Luis, which covers Madagascar and the British Interests Section and Honorary Consul in Antananarivo, have provided frequent reporting on the political situation since the current crisis intensified at the end of January 2009. Our officers from the high commission in Port Louis have also travelled to Madagascar periodically during the crisis.
Our officials in London, Mauritius and Madagascar have been in regular contact with international community contacts such as the EU, US and other diplomatic contacts in Madagascar and capitals.
On 14 March 2009, my noble Friend, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, telephoned Jean Ping, chairperson of the commission of the African Union (AU) to discuss the latest developments and the AU’s assessment of the situation. He also spoke to a number of senior African leaders at the London summit Africa outreach event on 16 March 2009.
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