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7 May 2009 : Column 361W—continued
Ghana: Military Aid
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 2 April 2009, Official Report, column 1307W, on Africa: conflict prevention, how many UK staff or personnel were seconded to the British Military Assistance Training Team in Ghana in each year since 2000; what the role of the Training Team has been; what activities it has undertaken; and if he will make a statement. [270460]
David Miliband: The British Military Advisory and Training Team-West Africa (BMATT-WA) is funded through the Africa Conflict Prevention Programme, managed tri-departmentally by the Ministry of Defence, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development. From 2000-02 there were five posts for UK military personnel and from 2003 to date there have been seven posts. In addition, a UK civilian post has been in existence since May 2003. The team will be withdrawn by September 2009.
The role of BMATT-WA, based in Ghana, has been to support two institutions—the Ghana armed forces command and staff college and the Kofi Annan international peace training centre (KAIPTC).
In the staff college, the team primarily provided training advice and assistance to the senior division. This support included delivering lectures, writing staff and tactical exercises, and facilitating visiting lecturers for the delivery of specialist defence modules. The three members of BMATT-WA embedded within the KAIPTC are working as executive director, resource director and staff officer for training development. The centre offers Ghanaian, regional and international participants the opportunity to examine specific peace operations issues
at the operational level and to update and share their knowledge of the latest practices through conferences, discussions, lectures and computer assisted training exercises.
Iran: Sanctions
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which states have reported to the UN Sanctions Committee impediments under their domestic law to the implementation of the assets freeze on designated persons and entities in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions 1737 of 2006, 1747 of 2007 and 1803 of 2008; and whether the UK has offered assistance to any such state in this regard. [270991]
David Miliband: Member states' reports affirming their implementation of the measures contained in UN Security Council resolutions 1737 of 2006, 1747 of 2007 and 1803 of 2008 are publicly available online at:
The 1737 Iran Sanctions Committee has never found it necessary to investigate any impediments under any member state’s domestic law concerning implementation of the assets freezes as a result of these reports.
The UK works with other states to provide assistance on the implementation of asset freezes under the UN sanctions against Iran through bilateral discussions and multilateral groups, such as the EU and the Financial Action Task Force.
Kenya: Piracy
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many piracy suspects have been transferred to Kenyan custody under (a) the EU/Kenya exchange of letters of 6 March 2009 for the transfer of persons suspected of committing acts of piracy and (b) the December 2008 memorandum of understanding between the UK and Kenya. [272920]
David Miliband: Twenty seven piracy suspects have been transferred to Kenyan custody under the EU/Kenya exchange of letters (sixteen by Germany and eleven by France). No piracy suspects have been transferred to Kenyan custody under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the UK and Kenya. The transfer of eight piracy suspects to Kenyan jurisdiction by the Royal Navy in November 2008 was done under an exchange of letters that preceded the MoU of December 2008.
Montserrat: Overseas Aid
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much financial aid has been provided to Montserrat by the UK since 1995. [272616]
Mr. Michael Foster: I have been asked to reply.
Full details of the UK development expenditure in Montserrat are contained in the DFID publication “Statistics on International Development”. This publication is available from the Library and online at www.dfid.gov.uk. Relevant figures are reproduced in the table.
| Bilateral UK gross public expenditure on development in Montserrat | |||||||
| £000 | |||||||
| DFID budgetary aid | DFID other financial aid | DFID technical assistance | Other DFID bilateral aid | DFID humanitarian assistance | Aid from other UK official sources | Total bilateral gross public expenditure (GPEX) | |
Rwanda: Extradition
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has had discussions with the Rwandan government on steps to be taken following the judgment of the divisional court of 8 April 2009 on the extradition of four men to Rwanda. [271801]
Gillian Merron [holding answer 28 April 2009]: We are discussing with the Government of Rwanda how we might best proceed in light of the High Court judgment of 8 April 2009, on the extradition of four men to Rwanda. We will continue to provide technical advice and support to the Rwandan justice sector. The Government and Parliament of Rwanda are pressing ahead with various reforms to this sector, in discussion with the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
Trade Unions
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 March 2009, Official Report, column 634W, on trade unions, which trade unions are recognised by his Department's agencies. [271933]
Gillian Merron: The following three trade unions have agreed rights to represent employees in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's agencies:
Public and Commercial Services Union
The Diplomatic Service Association—the Diplomatic Service section of the FDA (formerly First Division Association)
Prospect—representing technical staff and other specialists.
Zimbabwe
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the establishment of a contact group for Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [271590]
Gillian Merron: We want the new inclusive Government in Zimbabwe to work and to lead to a better future for all Zimbabweans, and we work to keep Zimbabwe high on the agenda at all appropriate international gatherings. There are already effective mechanisms for international discussion and co-ordination on Zimbabwe without the need to establish a formal contact group. An example of this co-ordination is the 20 March 2009 meeting in Washington of all donors, which reconfirmed international willingness to support recovery in Zimbabwe when there is evidence of a genuine commitment by the new Government to political and economic reform.
We also discuss the situation regularly with EU and other partners, including members of the Southern Africa development community. As input to these various discussions, our ambassador in Harare ensures with his colleagues that there is effective monitoring of the political situation. Humanitarian and recovery issues are also monitored and co-ordinated on the ground in Harare with regular meetings of like-minded donors.
It is encouraging that the inclusive Government have also begun their own direct dialogue with major international partners such as the EU and the International Monetary Fund. In the meantime, the international community continues to make a major contribution to supporting the humanitarian welfare of the Zimbabwean people.
Culture, Media and Sport
Cabinet: Glasgow
Mr. MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) special advisers and (b) officials accompanied him to Glasgow for the Cabinet meeting on 16 April 2009. [273937]
Departmental Official Hospitality
Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department has spent on hospitality and entertainment in each of the last five years. [273885]
Mr. Sutcliffe: All expenditure on hospitality is made in accordance with published departmental guidance, based on principles set out in Managing Public Money.
The information requested by the hon. Member is not readily available from the Department's accounting system. To provide the information would incur disproportionate cost.
Football: Finance
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which projects have received more than £250,000 in funding allocated through the Football Foundation since 2000. [273232]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Football Foundation advise that 416 projects have received more than £250,000 from them since 2000.
22 community projects (schemes using football/sporting activity to achieve wider social outcomes) have been awarded a grant over £250,000.
394 facility projects (capital funding to build football and multi-sport facilities) have been awarded a grant over £250,000.
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