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23 Jun 2009 : Column 791W—continued
Sri Lanka: Human Rights
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries have informed him of their support for the establishment of an international commission of inquiry into alleged human rights abuses in the Tamil areas of Sri Lanka. [280233]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has made clear, we fully endorse the EU’s calls for an independent inquiry into allegations of violations of international law in the recent conflict in Sri Lanka. It could play an important role in the post-conflict reconciliation process. As such, we welcome the joint statement by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and President Rajapakse of Sri Lanka underlining the importance of an accountability process for addressing possible violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. We will continue to press for progress on this with international partners, above all the EU and UN.
Sri Lanka: Internally Displaced Persons
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to (a) the government of Sri Lanka and (b) others on (i) the physical protection and (ii) provision of food, water, clothing and shelter for those held in camps for internally displaced people in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement. [280309]
Mr. Michael Foster: I have been asked to reply.
The Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, the high commissioner in Colombo and I have all urged the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure that internally displaced persons (IDPs) be treated in accordance with accepted international standards and guidelines. This includes ensuring the physical protection of IDPs, as well as the adequate provision of food, water and sanitation and shelter. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary raised the issue of humanitarian access with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Bogollogama on 5 June. The Prime Minister also raised the humanitarian situation in a telephone call with President Rajapakse on 18 May.
UK representatives regularly discuss the situation in Sri Lanka with the Indian Government, UN and humanitarian agencies. The Foreign Secretary also discussed the civilian crisis in Sri Lanka at the UN on his visit on 11 May.
Sri Lanka: Politics and Government
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking in collaboration with (a) commonwealth governments and (b) the UN to facilitate a political settlement between the government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil community; and if he will make a statement. [280300]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We remain of the view that lasting peace in Sri Lanka can only be achieved through an inclusive political solution based on equality, consent and rule of law, which satisfies the legitimate aspirations of all Sri Lankan communities. We will continue to press for progress on this, both bilaterally, and with international partners and at the UN.
We fully endorse the UN Secretary-General’s engagement in relation to Sri Lanka and we welcome his joint statement with President Rajapakse of 23 May 2009, in which they agreed the need to address the aspirations and grievances of all communities and working towards a lasting political solution.
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made a statement on Sri Lanka on 19 May 2009, Official Report, column 73WS.
Syrian Arab Republic: Asylum
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding the Government has contributed to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to meet the requirements of Iraqi nationals in Syria for 2009. [279641]
Mr. Michael Foster: I have been asked to reply.
The UK Government have contributed £2 million in 2008-09 to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to meet the requirements of Iraqi refugees living outside Iraq in the Middle East region. This funding is not earmarked for specific countries, although official estimates show that the large majority of Iraqi refugees live in Syria.
Zimbabwe
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of violent farm seizures in Zimbabwe which have occurred since the formation of the unity government; and if he will make a statement. [280622]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Since the Global Political Agreement was signed on 15 September 2008 there have been a number of violent incidents on farms. Farming organisations estimate that there have been 36 cases of assault against farmers and farm workers; five shootings; 62 cases of theft or destruction of crops, property or livestock; seven cases of farmers being barricaded in their property and 32 threats of evictions against farmers. 165 farmers have appeared in court and 35 farmers and workers have been evicted.
We condemn these attacks and urge the Inclusive Government to act on the commitments to reform that it has made, including respect for the rule of law and an end to violence. The judicial authorities in Zimbabwe must take action to end these seizures, which contravene the Southern African Development Community agreement of 15 September 2008.
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the treatment of supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change in Zimbabwe since the formation of the unity government; and if he will make a statement. [280625]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We remain in regular contact with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and human rights groups in Zimbabwe. At present we are monitoring the trials of the MDC supporters who were abducted in late 2008. We are also investigating reports that three other MDC supporters were recently abducted in order to persuade them to testify on behalf of the prosecution.
At the formation of the Inclusive Government in February 2009, approximately seventy political prisoners were in custody. Although all have now been released on bail, they are under extremely strict bail conditions, living in fear of re-arrest and suffering continued harassment
by state authorities. We remain deeply concerned about the fate of seven missing MDC activists, abducted in late 2008. The state have always denied knowledge of their whereabouts.
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has stated that human rights and the rule of law are among the key areas where progress is needed before there can be full international re-engagement with Zimbabwe. Together with our international partners, we continue to closely monitor the situation on the ground and urge the Inclusive Government to respect the commitments they made in their Global Political Agreement.
Cabinet Office
10 Downing Street: Shops
Mr. Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2009, Official Report, column 942W, on 10 Downing Street, (1) if she will place in the Library a copy of the list of retail prices of each item of merchandise available in the Downing Street gift shop; [270186]
(2) what the retail price of each individual item in the Downing Street gift shop is. [271939]
Angela E. Smith: I have nothing further to add to the answer given to the right hon. Member on 16 March 2009, Official Report, column 942W.
Abortion: Young People
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the abortion rate among those under the age of (a) 18 and (b) 16 years was in each region in 2008. [280976]
Gillian Merron: I have been asked to reply.
The information is shown in the following table.
| Abortion rates( 1) for women age under 16 and under 18 by region of residence, 2008 | ||
| Rate per 1,000 women | ||
| Strategic health authority | Age under 16( 2) | Age under 18( 3) |
| (1) Rates are based on 2007 mid year population estimates. (2) Rates for under 16 are based on populations 13-15. (3) Rates for under 18 are based on populations 15-17. | ||
Adoption: Homosexuality
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps the Government is taking to tackle discrimination against same-sex couples during adoption processes. [280697]
Michael Jabez Foster: I have been asked to reply.
The Government are committed to adoption for looked after children where this is in their best interests. We are also committed to ending discrimination against prospective adopters who are same sex couples.
The Adoption and Children Act (2002) focused strongly on the needs of children awaiting adoption, and widened the pool of prospective adopters to include same sex and unmarried heterosexual couples. The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 introduced the right for same sex couples to be treated the same as other prospective adopters.
The new Equality Bill maintains this right. It also introduces a new public sector Equality Duty which means that local authorities will have to consider the needs of lesbian, gay and bisexual people when they are planning their policies and services, including adoption services.
All prospective adopters undergo the same thorough and rigorous assessment process irrespective of their sexual orientation, or marital or civil partnership status.
Childbirth
Harry Cohen: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office on what dates the five most recent annual reports on the numbers of (a) live births and (b) stillbirths in England were published. [281119]
Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated June 2009:
As the National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question about the dates on which the five most recent annual reports on the numbers of (a) live births and (b) stillbirths in England were published. (281119)
The Office for National Statistics is responsible for publishing statistics on the numbers of births registered in England and Wales. The reference volume, Birth Statistics, Series FM1 is published annually and includes the number of live births and stillbirths in England. The five most recent publication dates for Birth Statistics, Series FM1 are shown in the table below.
| Year of birth | Date of publication of Annual Reference Volume: Birth Statistics, Series FM1 |
Figures for live births and stillbirths in England are usually published several months before the annual reference volume. The latest year for which figures are available is 2008 for live births (provisional data were released on 21 May 2009) and 2007 for stillbirths.
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Mr. Paice: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate she has made of the volume of carbon dioxide emissions arising from air travel by staff in her Department in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08 (i) in total and (ii) per full-time equivalent member of staff. [281032]
Angela E. Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the Cabinet Office autumn performance report 2008 which contains information on the carbon emissions arising as a result of the Department’s business air travel. The information is not available per full-time member of staff.
A copy of the performance report is available at:
and also in the Library of the House.
Departmental Work Experience
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) paid and (b) unpaid graduate internships her Department has awarded in each of the last six months. [281510]
Angela E. Smith: The Cabinet Office arranges placements to help young people better understand the workplace, promote itself as an employer of choice, enhance the image of the civil service and increase diversity.
As internships and work placements are arranged by individual management units records of how many (a) paid and (b) unpaid internships are offered to graduates in each of the last six months could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Economic and Monetary Union
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what activities have been undertaken by her Department’s Euro Minister in that capacity. [277176]
Angela E. Smith: As the Cabinet Office Minister with responsibility for euro preparedness I would represent the Department at the Treasury-led Euro Ministers’ Steering Group. The group has not met since June 2007.
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