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20 Apr 2009 : Column 511W—continued
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) role and (b) function of the Government Hospitality Fund is. [269141]
Gillian Merron: Government Hospitality in Protocol Directorate of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office delivers official hospitality for all Government Ministers and Permanent Secretary-level officials. Government Hospitality manages all the logistical preparations for official functions. It also oversees the administration of the Government wine cellar, and the maintenance of stocks of linen, china, silver and glassware.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Departments made use of the Government Hospitality Fund in each of the last five years. [269142]
Gillian Merron: Since 2004 the following Departments have used Government Hospitality's service:
The Office of the Prime Minister;
The Home Office;
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office;
The Ministry of Defence;
The Ministry of Justice;
HM Treasury; the Cabinet Office;
The Department of Health;
The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform;
The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs;
The Department for International Development;
The Department for Communities and Local Government;
The Department for Children, Schools and Families;
The Department for Energy and Climate Change;
The Department for Work and Pensions;
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport; and
The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) champagnes and (b) other wines the Government Hospitality Fund purchased in each of the last five years; and how many bottles of each were purchased. [269143]
Gillian Merron: Since 2004 Government Hospitality has purchased the following wines:
English still and sparkling white and rosé wines;
Red Bordeaux;
White Burgundy;
Red Burgundy;
White Loire;
Sweet white Bordeaux;
Non-vintage and vintage Champagne;
Red Spanish;
Red Italian;
Red and white beverage (reception) wines;
Red Argentinean;
Red Australian;
Red Chilean;
Red New Zealand; and
Red US wines.
To give a detailed breakdown of the numbers of each wine bought would incur disproportionate cost as the information can be obtained only by investigating paper records.
Immigration: Finance
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the budget of the Returns and Reintegration Fund (a) was in 2008-09 and (b) is planned to be in 2009-10; what proportion of that total in each case is being provided by (i) his Department, (ii) the Ministry of Justice, (iii) the UK Border Agency and (iv) the Department for International Development; and if he will make a statement. [268856]
Bill Rammell: The allocation for the Returns and Reintegration Fund in 2008-09 was up to £40 million comprising: UK Border Agency (UKBA) £21 million; Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) £4 million and Department for International Development (DFID) £15 million. In 2009-10 it is planned to be up to £37 million comprising: UKBA £21 million; FCO £4 million and DFID £12 million. The Ministry of Justice makes no financial contribution but supports the fund by providing expertise on specific projects.
Iraq: Conflict Prevention
Mr. Hague: 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, how much of the planned expenditure in the Middle East in 2009-10 has been allocated to stabilisation activities in Iraq. [267733]
David Miliband: Of the £18 million assigned to the Middle East North Africa Programme for 2009-10, £13.1 million will be spent on stabilisation activities in Iraq.
Stabilisation activities there will focus on support for security sector reform by building Iraqi police and judiciary capabilities in forensics and investigations techniques across the country; fostering economic growth, investment and job opportunities in the Basra region; developing the capacity of the Council of Representatives; and reconciliation initiatives.
Iraq: Mujahedin-e Khalq
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of alleged attacks on residents in Ashraf City by members of the Iraqi secret service; and if he will make a statement. [265351]
Bill Rammell [holding answer 20 March 2009]: We are aware that such allegations have surfaced in the Iraqi media. We have discussed these allegations with the US, who retain a presence inside Camp Ashraf, and with the Iraqi government. We have seen no evidence to support the allegations.
Iraq: Reconstruction
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many contracts for reconstruction projects in Iraq have been awarded to UK businesses. [267422]
Bill Rammell: Full information on contracts for reconstruction projects in Iraq is not held centrally and to collate would incur disproportionate cost. It would involve accessing information held by the government of Iraq, coalition partners, a full range of international and commercial partners alongside that held by the Government.
From the Government's perspective, the Department for International Development has issued 117 contracts for our bi-lateral Iraq programme since March 2003. These all relate to our technical assistance projects in Iraq and are mostly small (under £100,000) and often to individual consultants. Some are considerably larger with sixteen over £1 million in value and the highest of £11,700,000. Our main contracts have been won by UK businesses such as Coffey International, Mott MacDonald, and PA Consulting.
Members: Correspondence
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter of 2 December 2008 from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford on Ms Margaret Harrison of Chelmsford. [266652]
Caroline Flint: My hon. Friend the Minister responsible for South East Asia replied to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford’s (Mr. Burns) letter on 31 March 2009.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter to him of 19 February 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regards to Mrs Amtar Rashid. [268030]
David Miliband: I replied to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton's letter on 5 April 2009.
Mental Illness
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recommendations relevant to his Department's policy responsibilities made in the Foresight report on Mental Capacity and Well-Being; and if he will make a statement. [244021]
Gillian Merron: The Foresight report makes no recommendations directly relevant to the policy responsibilities of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Nonetheless its findings are consistent with the Department's approach to tackling workplace stress and mental health problems among its own staff.
Middle East: Armed Conflict
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Israeli government on the recent attack on a convoy in Sudan alleged to have been carrying arms to the Gaza Strip; and if he will make a statement. [268622]
Gillian Merron [holding answer 2 April 2009]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not made any representations to the Israeli government on the recent attack on a convoy in Sudan alleged to have been carrying arms to the Gaza Strip.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the US administration on the recent attack on a convoy in Sudan alleged to have been carrying arms to the Gaza Strip; and if he will make a statement. [268623]
Gillian Merron [holding answer 2 April 2009]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not made any representations to the US administration on the attack on a convoy in Sudan alleged to have been carrying arms to the Gaza Strip.
Nepal: Human Rights
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the relationship between observance of human rights and long-term development in Nepal. [269656]
Bill Rammell: The UK wants to support Nepal in achieving its vision of a peaceful, prosperous, and just country, where all its people have a say and equal chances for a better life.
A faltering peace process, delays in writing the new constitution and weak law and order are undermining the promotion and protection of human rights and the effective delivery of development programmes. The UK is committed to helping Nepal achieve peace and stability, draft a constitution which will establish an equitable society and protect human rights, and reach its poverty targets. In this way, all Nepalese people will be able to access their rights and benefit from development. The Department for International Development’s programme in Nepal therefore has the following priorities: supporting the peace process and helping to improve security, helping the Nepalese Government to deliver more effectively, especially on health and education, and helping poor people, especially women, benefit from economic growth.
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Nepal. [269658]
Bill Rammell: As I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow) on 23 March 2009, Official Report, columns 32-33W, while there have been improvements in the human rights situation in Nepal since the end of the conflict in 2006, significant challenges remain to the promotion and protection of human rights caused by the absence of the rule of law. Despite the Government of Nepal making repeated commitments to promoting respect for human rights, they have made limited progress. They have however taken steps towards the proportional inclusion of minorities in all organs and at all levels of the state. They have also increased the budget for the national human rights commission, and has discussed the introduction of a bill to establish a truth and reconciliation commission.
The continuing impunity for past and ongoing human rights abuses remains a key concern. It has encouraged a lack of respect for the law which encourages people to turn to violence to resolve disputes. Poor public security, particularly in the Terai (plains), where there is a proliferation of armed groups, is a major obstacle to improving human rights in Nepal. We are also concerned at the increase in intimidation and violence against journalists which is leading to self-censorship by journalists. Political interference in police investigations is commonplace and we continue to receive reports of torture in police custody.
Our embassy in Kathmandu closely monitors the human rights situation. During the past year we have raised our concerns, including at ministerial level, about attacks on the media, freedom of expression and movement, excessive use of force by the security forces, and the need to discharge minors from the Maoist people’s liberation army. We will continue to engage with the government of Nepal both bi-laterally and in conjunction with the EU, other international partners, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to urge it to meet the commitments it has made to uphold and promote human rights. Our embassy is also supporting the efforts of civil society to combat impunity, through advocacy, training and work on legislative reform.
Nepal: Press Freedom
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on levels of press freedom in Nepal. [269654]
Bill Rammell: There is a diverse and lively press in Nepal expressing different political viewpoints. However, we are concerned about increasing intimidation and violence against journalists. Attacks are from a range of sources, including Government Ministers, major political parties and their sister organisations, armed groups and businesses. Despite commitments by the Government to protect human rights widespread impunity has meant that attacks on freedom of expression go unpunished, leading to cases of self-censorship by journalists.
We repeatedly raise concerns about freedom of expression at all levels with the Government of Nepal, both bilaterally and with the EU. Our embassy in Kathmandu also supports civil society initiatives to promote freedom of expression.
Nepal: Religious Freedom
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of levels of religious freedom in Nepal. [269655]
Bill Rammell: The interim constitution of Nepal provides for freedom of religion, and Nepal was declared a secular state by the interim parliament in 2007. We regularly urge the Government of Nepal at all levels to give priority to the implementation of all rights and freedoms, including religious freedoms, and are encouraging them to ensure that freedom of religion is enshrined in the new constitution currently being drafted.
Pakistan: Human Rights
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Pakistan on allegations of human rights abuses in (a) Swat region and (b) elsewhere in Pakistan. [267985]
Bill Rammell: We discuss the situation in Swat with a wide range of Government of Pakistan officials. In those discussions we have raised the subjects of internally displaced people and the impact of violence on daily life. We also discuss the situation regularly with the international aid organisations operating in the region. More generally, we encourage human rights reform through our regular dialogue with the Government of Pakistan, both bi-laterally and through the EU.
Pakistan: Taliban
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effect of continuing Taliban insurgency in Pakistan on the Government’s policies on the region. [267673]
Bill Rammell: The Government remain deeply concerned about the grave threat that Taleban militants and violent extremists in Pakistan pose to Pakistan and to the stability of the region.
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