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21 Apr 2009 : Column 564W—continued
Kenya
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Ministers have visited Kenya in the last 12 months. [269487]
Gillian Merron: The following Ministers have visited Kenya in the last 12 months:
Rt. hon. Douglas Alexander MP, Secretary of State for International Development, in March 2009;
Rt. hon. Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in February 2009;
Rt. hon. Ed Miliband MP, Secretary of State, Department for Energy and Climate Change, in February 2009;
Rt. hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, in November 2008;
Gareth Thomas MP, Minister of State at the Department for International Development, in December 2008;
Ivan Lewis MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for International Development, in December 2008;
Lord West, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Security and Counter-terrorism), in December 2008; and
Rt. hon. Bob Ainsworth MP, Minister for the Armed Forces, in November 2008.
Kenya: Piracy
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Kenyan counterpart on anti-piracy operations off the coast of Kenya. [269488]
Caroline Flint: UK officials are engaged in ongoing discussions and co-operation with their Kenyan counterparts on anti-piracy operations in the region. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister recently wrote to President Kibaki to thank him for Kenya's co-operation in combating piracy in the Gulf of Aden. Our high commissioner in Nairobi discussed piracy with President Kibaki on 20 February 2009 when the President reiterated the importance of international action on a shared problem. The UK is a member of the International Contact Group taking forward work on this issue, which also includes Kenya.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to reply to the letter dated 14 January 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to J. Lovely. [263656]
David Miliband: I replied to my right hon. Friend's letter on 10 April 2009.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 23 February 2009, with regard to Mr and Mrs Z. Ullah. [269340]
David Miliband: I replied to my right hon. Friend’s letter on 26 March 2009.
Middle East: 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 proportion of the revised budget for the Middle East programme will be spent in (a) Iraq, (b) Israel-Palestine and (c) Lebanon; and if he will make a statement. [267727]
Bill Rammell: Of the £18 million discretionary funding assigned to the Middle East and North Africa Programme for 2009-10; £13.1 million has been allocated to Iraq, £3.15 million to Israel-Palestine, and £1.35 million to Lebanon. The remaining £400,000 has been assigned to Yemen.
This programme will continue our assistance to build Iraqi and Palestinian police and judiciary capabilities and our work with the Lebanese armed forces and internal security forces. It will also allow the UK to foster economic growth, investment and job opportunities in the Basra region, monitor and assist in improving the economic and humanitarian situation in Israeli-Palestine and reinforce Lebanese sovereignty and good governance.
Moscow
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visits were made by Ministers to Moscow in the financial year 2007-08. [269707]
Caroline Flint: There were two visits made by Ministers to Moscow between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2008.
Nuclear Weapons: EU Action
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for the Government's policy on non-proliferation of the European Commission Communication on nuclear non-proliferation of 26 March 2009. [269144]
Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the Explanatory Memorandum which was laid in the House today.
Pakistan: Females
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 provision of education for women in (a) Swat region and (b) elsewhere in Pakistan. [267986]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
The Department for International Development's (DFID) has made a £250 million commitment to support education in Pakistan over the next five years. We are engaged in detailed discussions with the federal government and the provincial governments in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP, which includes the Swat region), Balochistan and the Punjab on plans for the use of these resources. Improving the enrolment of girls in school is a key priority area for our discussions.
We have already committed £13.8 million to improve education in the NWFP. £6.8 million of this support is providing monthly stipends, which will benefit over 300,000 girls, who may not otherwise have the opportunity to attend secondary school. In the Swat district of NWFP, conflict has severely affected girls' education. In recent months 190 schools have been destroyed, most of which have been girls' schools. At present, however, the provincial government reports that classes have restarted using tented accommodation. The UK Government are deeply concerned about the threat to girls' education posed by extremism in Swat.
We are also supporting a national £3.5 million gender in education project that is helping the Government to better address gender issues in the formulation of education policy. This includes disaggregating education information by gender, in order to monitor progress in improving girls' educational access.
Pitcairn Islands: Politics and Government
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are for a new governance structure for the Pitcairn Islands in April 2009. [269497]
Gillian Merron: At the beginning of April 2009 a new governance structure was established for the Pitcairn Islands. The new structure devolves more local government responsibility to the island council. Systems have been established to improve Government recruitment and introduce performance management. Policies covering child safety and other important areas have been refined. These are essential building-blocks for the future good governance of the island.
Pitcairn Islands: Shipping
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made on ensuring a more regular shipping service for passengers and freight to and from the Pitcairn Islands; and if he will make a statement. [269496]
Gillian Merron: The Pitcairn Islands Government has entered into an agreement with a contractor to provide a new, regular and more frequent shipping service to the Pitcairn Islands for both freight and passengers. The service will make eight calls at Pitcairn each year, including four direct from New Zealand carrying freight. It is expected that the new service will begin in September 2009. The new service will substantially improve access to the Pitcairn Islands.
Uganda
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Ministers have visited Uganda in the last 12 months. [269482]
Caroline Flint:
My hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department of International Development (Mr. Lewis) visited Uganda in February 2009. Although there have been no other ministerial visits to Uganda in the last 12 months, it may be useful to note the following high-level visits: General Sir Richard Dannatt, Chief of the General
Staff in February 2009; and Mr. Jack McConnell MSP, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Conflict Resolution in March 2009.
Zimbabwe: British Nationality
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens live in Zimbabwe. [269491]
Gillian Merron: We estimate that between 10,000 to 12,000 British citizens live in Zimbabwe. This information is based on information held by our embassy in Harare.
Zimbabwe: Human Rights
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Zimbabwean counterpart on the human rights situation in Zimbabwe. [269727]
Gillian Merron: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not met his Zimbabwean counterpart since the inclusive government was formed on 13 February 2009, and has not directly raised our human rights concerns with him. However, we and our international partners, regularly raise our serious concerns about the human rights situation in Zimbabwe with the Government of Zimbabwe. In his statement of 11 February 2009, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said the restoration of the rule of law, respect for human rights, the release of political detainees and the repeal of repressive legislation were the foundations of international support.
The statement of 11 February 2009 is available for viewing online at:
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 US counterpart on the political situation in Zimbabwe. [269493]
Gillian Merron: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met with US Secretary of State Clinton in Washington on 3 February 2009. The power sharing agreement in Zimbabwe was one of the issues discussed.
Health
Abortion
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what aftercare is provided to women having an abortion at a Marie Stopes International clinic; how many women in each age group died following an abortion at a Marie Stopes International clinic in each of the last 10 years; what the cause of death was in each case; what guidance his Department has issued to Marie Stopes International about aftercare provided at its clinics; and if he will make a statement. [268499]
Dawn Primarolo:
All independent sector abortion providers, including Marie Stopes International, must operate according to the requirements of the Care Standards Act 2000, the Abortion Act 1967 and
professional guidelines published by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. The legislation and the guidelines set out the care that should be given to women undergoing abortion, including aftercare.
Abortion, both medical and surgical, is a very safe procedure and complications are uncommon. Deaths following abortion are extremely rare.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward proposals to prevent patients being discharged from an abortion clinic without their prescribed medication; what discussions he has had with abortion clinics on this issue since January 2009; what recent representations he has received on the issue; and if he will make a statement. [268501]
Dawn Primarolo: All abortion providers should follow the best practice outlined in The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion, which is the guidance published in 2004 by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. This provides guidance for professionals on all aspects of aftercare for women who have undergone abortions, including the prescription of medicine.
In addition, abortion clinics operating in the independent sector must comply with the requirements of the Care Standards Act 2000 and the Private and Voluntary Healthcare Regulations 2001. This legislation, together
with the associated National Minimum Standards, ensures that high quality care is provided to women who seek abortions. In particular, the National Minimum Standards state patients must receive information about their medication and how to use it and that patients must be made aware of the possible complications arising from abortion, how to care for themselves after the procedure and how to contact the clinic for any necessary follow-up care and advice.
The Department holds regular discussions with abortion providers and these discussions cover a range of issues. The Department has received no representations on medication prescribed at abortion clinics.
Abortion: Death
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many maternal deaths have resulted from legal abortions in each year since 1979; and what the maternal mortality rate was (a) for all causes and (b) for women undergoing legal abortions; and what estimate he has made of the material mortality rate among women undergoing illegal abortions since 1979. [268523]
Dawn Primarolo: Information relating to England (and Wales) is contained in the following table.
| Maternal deaths from legal and illegal abortions 1979 to 2005 | |||||||||
| Triennium | |||||||||
| 1979-81 | 1982-84 | 1985-87 | 1988-90 | 1991-93 | 1994-96 | 1997-99 | 2000-02 | 2003-05 | |
| (1) Rate for England and Wales only, no data available for Scotland and Wales | |||||||||
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