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20 Apr 2009 : Column 516W—continued
We are concerned about the spread of the Taleban’s influence in Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province
and by the peace deal in Swat. We need to be confident that any such deal will end violence, not create space for further violence. Previous deals have not provided a sustainable solution to Swats’ problems.
We consider that our objectives in Afghanistan cannot be achieved without a secure and stable Pakistan that is focused on tackling the serious problem of Afghan militants operating from Pakistan’s frontier areas. A long-term, comprehensive approach is required, bringing together robust, monitored and enforceable security measures on cross-border movement with improvements in development and governance.
Furthermore, we assess that insurgency in Pakistan creates space for the recruitment, training and operation of other violent extremist groups, including Al Qaida, which pose a clear security threat to the UK and the wider world.
Insecurity created by the insurgency is also a fundamental obstacle to shared aims of development, economic growth and the fulfilment of human rights in Pakistan and the wider region.
The UK seeks to help Pakistan to develop the capacity to tackle the threat of militancy and to build a stable, prosperous and democratic country that is equipped to address the grievances which can result in violent extremism.
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 the position of the Taliban in Swat region. [267987]
Bill Rammell: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials based at our High Commission in Islamabad continue to hold frequent discussions about the political and security situation in Pakistan with a wide range of Pakistani ministers, politicians and officials. The security situation in Swat has been a regular theme of discussions, including recently with Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last discussed the broader political and security situation in Pakistani with President Asif Zardari on Friday 12 March 2009.
RMS St. Helena
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost of maintaining RMS St. Helena has been since it entered service in 1989. [267101]
Mr. Michael Foster: I have been asked to reply.
Annual maintenance costs (including repairs) for the Royal Mail Ship (RMS) St. Helena since 1991-92 when the RMS started service are set out in the following table. These do not include consumables (paint etc.).
Security Guards
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the use of private armed security companies in volatile countries. [266895]
Gillian Merron: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not made an assessment on the use of private armed security companies in volatile countries.
Shanghai World Expo
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding has been received for the British pavilion for the Shanghai World Expo 2010. [263509]
Bill Rammell: The information requested is as follows:
£10,241,314 by 31 March 2009. This is made up of £1,351,600 from private sector sponsors; £8,889,714 from public sector sponsors.
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the British pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo 2010. [263510]
Bill Rammell: The design and building costs of the pavilion are £13.8 million, including a contingency of £1.8 million. The cost to the public purse of the pavilion will be this sum minus a share of sponsorship from the private sector.
Special Envoy for Conflict Resolution
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what coaching and training the Government have provided for the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Conflict Resolution, Jack McConnell; and what the cost was of such training since his appointment. [250383]
Bill Rammell: The right hon. Jack McConnell MSP, the Prime Minister's Special Representative for Conflict Resolution Mechanisms, has been briefed by officials on relevant subjects as necessary. No formal training or coaching has been required and therefore no costs have been incurred.
Sudan: Eritrea
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with President Afewerki of Eritrea on the recent visit to Eritrea of Sudan's President al-Bashir. [269329]
Caroline Flint: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not had any discussions with President Afewerki of Eritrea. Our officials have regularly set out to the Eritrean government our views on the situation in Sudan and the need for co-operation with the International Criminal Court.
Sudan: Israel
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli ambassador on the recent Israeli attack on alleged arms carriers in Eastern Sudan. [269322]
Caroline Flint: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not made any representations to the Israeli ambassador on the alleged attack on a convoy in Sudan, which was reported to have been carrying arms to the Gaza Strip.
Sudan: Politics and Government
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Sudanese government on the closure of Sudan Social Development Organisation. [268624]
Gillian Merron [holding answer 2 April 2009]: We are gravely concerned about the expulsion of 13 international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the closure of local organisations including the Sudan social development organisation. The EU statement issued on 10 March 2009 specifically mentions the local NGOs and calls on the government of Sudan to reconsider their decision.
Our embassy in Khartoum is working closely with other embassies and the UN to ensure the situation of the local NGOs continues to be raised with the government of Sudan. A working group, including the UN Mission in Sudan, the UN African Union Mission in Darfur and the Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs is being set up in Khartoum, to monitor the situation.
To date, there has been no indication that the government of Sudan will reverse its decision and allow the local organisations to continue operating in Sudan.
Tony Blair
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost to the public purse of the protection of Tony Blair when outside the British Isles has been since June 2007, broken down by category of expenditure. [262895]
Mr. Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 5 March 2009, Official Report, column 1779W.
USA: Iran
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the US Secretary of State on President Obama’s recent video broadcast to the Iranians. [268752]
Bill Rammell: We continue to have regular discussions with the US on the full range of Iran related issues, including during President Obama and Secretary Clinton’s visit to the UK. We fully support President Obama’s recent message to the Government and people of Iran and welcome his commitment to direct engagement and a relationship based on mutual respect if Iran is willing to do the same. I urge Iran’s leaders to respond positively to the opportunity this presents to work constructively with the international community.
Uzbekistan: Human Rights
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what part his Department has played in the EU-Uzbekistan Human Rights Dialogue. [265369]
Caroline Flint: Our ambassador in Tashkent makes a significant contribution to regular human rights reporting by EU Heads of Mission. These reports, supported as necessary by interventions by our representation in Brussels, play a key role in driving the agenda for the EU Human Rights Dialogue with Uzbekistan. We are preparing for the next round of that dialogue, which is due to take place on 10 June 2009 in Tashkent. Our aim is to contribute towards an EU approach that is both critical and constructive.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to answer question 258643, on arms trade: exports, tabled on 24 February 2009. [268023]
Gillian Merron: This question was answered on 31 March 2009, Official Report, column 1114W. The delay in replying was due to an administrative error.
Zimbabwe: Politics and Government
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his African Union counterparts on the political situation in Zimbabwe. [269489]
Gillian Merron: My noble Friend, the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, met a number of African leaders, including Presidents Khama, Kikwete and Odinga, at a pre-London G20 Summit meeting on 16 March 2009. Zimbabwe was one of the key topics under discussion. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has been in regular contact with Dlamini-Zuma, his South African counterpart, about Zimbabwe, which he discussed at a meeting on 6 March 2009. My noble Friend, Lord Malloch-Brown also spoke with African leaders about Zimbabwe at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa from 1-4 February 2009.
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