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22 Jun 2009 : Column 630W—continued
HMS Invincible is at low readiness.
Time not accounted for under operations and maintenance include periods of basic sea training, post refit trials, periods of extended leave and other duties such as conducting ammunitioning and storing whilst in port.
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy ships are planned to carry a full anti-submarine warfare capability in (a) five and (b) 10 years' time; and which ships carry such a capability at present. [281404]
Mr. Quentin Davies: Most Royal Navy warships possess an anti-submarine capability, which will often be enhanced with an embarked helicopter. In addition, eight of the Type 23 frigates currently in service are equipped to provide a specialist anti-submarine warfare capability and they will continue to do so until replaced by the Future Surface Combatant (FSC). The precise dates of the progressive replacement of Type 23s by the FSC have not yet been determined.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Afghanistan: Detainees
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department was first notified by the Governor of Bermuda of the Bermudan Government's discussions with the US on the transfer of four former detainees from Guantánamo Bay; and if he will make a statement. [280865]
David Miliband: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office received notification from the Governor of Bermuda on 11 June 2009 that the Government of Bermuda had been in discussion with the US on the transfer of four former detainees from Guantanamo Bay. The Government of Bermuda acted outside their competence.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government of Bermuda notified his Department that it had agreed to accept the transfer of four former detainees from Guantánamo Bay before the former detainees arrived in Bermuda on 12 June 2009; and if he will make a statement. [280867]
David Miliband: The four former detainees arrived in Bermuda early on 11 June 2009. The Government of Bermuda notified the Governor a few hours earlier that some Muslim Uighur refugees were on their way, without mention of the United States or Guantanamo Bay.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the security assessment of the four former detainees from Guantánamo Bay who have been transferred to Bermuda is expected to be completed; and if he will make a statement. [280868]
David Miliband: We are working with the Government of Bermuda and the US to ensure that the security assessment will be completed as soon as possible.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date the Government of Bermuda began discussions with the US administration on the transfer of detainees from Guantánamo Bay to Bermuda. [280869]
David Miliband: The Government of Bermuda began discussions with the US Administration on or about 20 May 2009.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the review of the legal basis of the Government’s relations with Bermuda following the transfer of four former detainees from Guantánamo Bay is expected to be completed; and if he will make a statement. [280880]
David Miliband: We are not reviewing the Bermuda constitution, but in light of the of this case we are reviewing the operation of the General Entrustment which is the agreement that delegates to the Government of Bermuda the authority to conduct external negotiations in specified areas. We expect to complete this by the end of July 2009.
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Bermudan authorities on the four people released from the US detention centre at Guantánamo and resettled in Bermuda; and what steps he plans to take on the matter. [281316]
Chris Bryant: Discussions are ongoing between the Governor, the Government of Bermuda and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office over the transfer of four former detainees from Guantanamo Bay to Bermuda. We are considering next steps with all interested parties.
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he had discussions with his US counterpart on the recent transfer of four detainees from Guantanamo Bay to Bermuda before the transfer took place. [281591]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: There were no discussions between my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and his US counterpart on the transfer of four detainees from Guantanamo Bay to Bermuda before the transfer took place.
Departmental Press
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) newspapers and (b) periodicals are delivered to the private office of each Minister in his Department; and at what cost in the latest period for which figures are available. [279428]
Chris Bryant: The following information is for the month of May 2009, the latest period for which figures are available, and relates to the ministerial team in place at the time.
The Foreign Secretary's private office received the following papers and periodicals Monday to Friday, or when published, at a cost of £589:
Daily Mail x 3
Daily Mirror x 3
Daily Telegraph x 4
Financial Times x 3
Guardian x 4
Independent x 3
International Herald Tribune x 2
Le Monde x 1
The Sun x 4
The Times x 4
Evening Standard (1st Edition) x 3
Evening Standard (West End Final) x 3
The Economist
New Statesman
Spectator
Private Eye .
Lord Malloch-Brown's private office received one copy of each of the following papers and periodicals Monday to Friday, or when published, at a cost of £198.90:
Daily Mirror
Daily Telegraph
Guardian
Independent
International Herald Tribune
The Sun
Times
Economist x 2
New Statesman
Private Eye
Spectator .
Bill Rammell MP's private office received one copy of each of the following papers Monday to Thursday at a cost of £105.00:
Financial Times
The Times
The Independent
The Telegraph
The Sun
Daily Mirror
Daily Mail .
Caroline Flint MP's private office received the following papers and periodicals Monday to Friday, or when published, at a cost of £326.70:
Financial Times x 2
The Daily Telegraph x 2
The Times x 2
The Independent x 2
Daily Mail x 2
Daily Express x 2
Daily Mirror x 2
The Sun x 2
The Guardian x 2
Evening Standard (1st Edition) x 2
Evening Standard (West End Final) x 2
Economist
New Statesman .
Gillian Merron MP's private office received one copy of each of the following papers Monday to Thursday, at a cost of £46.08:
Daily Mirror
Financial Times
Guardian .
Lord Davies's private office received one copy of each of the following papers and periodicals Monday to Friday, or when published, at a cost of £100.70:
Daily Telegraph
Guardian
Times
Economist
New Statesman
Spectator
The Week
Fortune
Private Eye .
Costs for Lord Davies's private office were met by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Departmental Training
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what training courses have been attended by special advisers in his Department in the last 12 months; and at what cost. [279399]
Chris Bryant: One special adviser attended the Home Security course which is standard upon entry to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), at no additional cost to the FCO. No other courses have been attended by special advisers in the last 12 months.
EU Institutions
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on (a) democratic accountability of European institutions and (b) financial efficiency of European institutions in the last two years. [280745]
Chris Bryant: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has regular contact with his EU counterparts on a variety of issues.
The Lisbon treaty will improve the democratic accountability of the EU Institutions by giving national Parliaments a direct say in EU law making for the first time.
In the context of annual Budget negotiations and the discharge process it is the Government’s priority to bear down on administration costs and promote sound financial management in EU institutions.
European Union
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was levied in fines against the UK by EU institutions in 2008. [277093]
Chris Bryant: The UK has never been subject to infraction proceedings by the European Commission, and no fines were levied against the UK in 2008.
Iran: British Nationality
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to ensure the safety of UK citizens in Iran. [281593]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Our embassies and high commissions use a number of channels to communicate information to British nationals. These include travel advice, wardens networks, LOCATE—an online registering facility, the internet and local media.
All of our embassies and high commissions are required to hold a post emergency plan and, where deemed necessary, a civil contingency plan. Our embassy in Tehran holds both. These plans are designed to help our diplomatic missions respond to any crisis they may face, including dealing with consular emergencies, civil unrest or in some cases assisting the departure of British Nationals from a country. All plans are reviewed regularly and tested at least annually and more often if the circumstances in country warrant it. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Consular Crisis Group oversees the review process of these plans.
Languages: EU Action
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what timetable he has set for publication of the United Kingdom's Fourth Periodical Report on the implementation of policies under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. [280310]
Chris Bryant: The UK's Fourth Periodical Report is due to be submitted to the Council of Europe for publication in May 2012.
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar on 12 November 2007, Official Report, column 37W, on European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, for what reason the UK's third periodical report on the implementation of policies under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages was not published on 1 July 2008. [280348]
Chris Bryant: The submission of the UK's Third Report on the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages was delayed as the Northern Ireland Executive was not in a position to issue its input in relation to matters that had been devolved to the Executive.
Sri Lanka: Human Rights
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of the treatment in Sri Lanka of Tamils visiting Sri Lanka from the UK; what steps he is taking in response to such reports; and if he will make a statement. [280284]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We are aware of two British nationals in the camps for internally displaced persons in Sri Lanka. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised the issue with the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister on 5 June 2009. The Foreign Secretary was assured that the Government of Sri Lanka was addressing the issue. We very much hope they will be able to return to their families in the UK as soon as possible.
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