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8 July 2009 : Column 852W—continued
Young People: Remand in Custody
David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many juveniles remanded in custody were subsequently (a) acquitted and (b) given a non-custodial sentence in (i) a magistrates’ court and (ii) the Crown Court in each year since 2003; [284299]
(2) what proportion of juveniles appearing before a court on (a) Monday to Friday and (b) Saturday were given a custodial remand in the most recent year for which figures are available. [284300]
Claire Ward: The information contained in the table shows the proportion of juveniles remanded in custody who were subsequently acquitted or given a custodial sentence at all courts, England and Wales 2003 to 2007. These data are from the Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database. Data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
Information on the proportion of juveniles appearing before court on a particular day, who were remanded into custody is not collected centrally.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
British Overseas Territories: Discrimination
Mr. Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to include a prohibition on discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in the constitutions of Overseas Territories. [284634]
Chris Bryant: The Government take the protection of human rights very seriously. We ensure that all new constitutions contain a Bill of Rights that reflects, at a minimum, the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This ensures that all groups, whether or not specifically mentioned in each Bill of Rights, have at least the same degree of protection under the relevant constitution as people in the UK have under the ECHR and Human Rights Act. Under these instruments discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation is prohibited.
In addition, we strongly encourage each Overseas Territory to agree to include a specific prohibition on discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in their new constitutions. The outcome depends on the constitutional negotiation with each territory.
Mr. Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many recently amended constitutions of Overseas Territories do not prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. [284635]
Chris Bryant: Since 2006, the Government have agreed new constitutions with five Overseas Territories and implemented them by Order in Council: the British Virgin Islands, the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Cayman Islands (not yet in force). Only the Falkland Islands' constitution specifically mentions sexual orientation as a ground on which discrimination is prohibited.
The new St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cuhna Constitution, which has been agreed and will be submitted to Her Majesty the Queen in the Privy Council on 8 July 2009, also specifically mentions sexual orientation as a ground on which discrimination is prohibited.
The Government take the protection of human rights very seriously. Even though there may not be specific provision within a constitution for non-discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, we do ensure that all constitutions contain a Bill of Rights that reflects at a minimum the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The effect is that all groups, whether or not specifically mentioned in the Bill of Rights have at least the same degree of protection under the constitution as people in the UK have under the ECHR and the Human Rights Act.
Mr. Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many constitutions of Overseas Territories which do not prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation the Government has agreed to since 1997. [284636]
Chris Bryant: Six new Overseas Territory constitutions—the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, the Falklands Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and St. Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha—have been agreed since 1997. In each case the constitution contains a Bill of Rights that reflects at a minimum the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This means that everyone in those territories has at least the same degree of protection under each constitution as people in the UK have under the ECHR and the Human Rights Act. It also means discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, as enshrined in the ECHR, is prohibited.
Colombia: Politics and Government
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department will hold discussions with the Colombian government on the situation of members of the Nukak tribe camped near San Jose; and if he will make a statement. [285342]
Chris Bryant: Our embassy in Bogotá regularly raises human rights issues with senior Colombian Government officials, and has been following the plight of members of the Nukak Maku tribe for some time. The embassy recently approved financial support to the National Indigenous Organisation of Colombia for activities related to the upcoming visit to Colombia of Mr. James Anaya, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous People, who, among other issues, will be addressing the situation of the Nukak Maku tribe.
Departmental Information Officers
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost to his Department of press office staff other than press officers has been in each year since 1997. [283073]
Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) annual salary cost of press office staff other than press officers was £429,648 in the 2008-09 financial year, £421,532 in 2007-08 and £410,677 in 2006-07. These staff work in areas such as: updating the news section of the FCO website and other e-media; liaising with foreign journalists in the UK; photographing official ministerial meetings; and managing the logistics of FCO media events.
Figures previous to 2006-07 could not be split between press office staff and press officers.
These figures are calculated on an average salary cost basis which includes basic pay, national insurance, superannuation and the London location allowance.
EU Budget
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government’s (a) gross and (b) net contribution to the EU budget is in 2009. [282749]
Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
The Government’s latest forecast of UK net contributions to the EC Budget in 2008-09 and 2009-10 were published in Table C9 (page 238) of the 2009 Budget (C 407). A more detailed breakdown of these contributions and an estimate of UK contributions in 2009 will be included in the 2009 European Community Finances White Paper which will be published shortly.
Gibraltar: Territorial Water
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the government of Gibraltar on its application to the Court of First Instance in relation to the Spanish government's designation of Gibraltarian territorial waters under the EU Habitats Directive. [283615]
Chris Bryant: We are in close contact with the Government of Gibraltar and are aware of their application to the Court of First Instance, for the annulment of Commission Decision 2009/95/EC to the extent that it lists Estrecho Oriental so as to include British Gibraltar territorial waters and an area of the high seas. This is a matter we take very seriously and we are examining Gibraltar’s case in detail to determine what action we might take.
Gurkhas
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make an estimate of the number of retired Gurkhas working as private security contractors in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [284417]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Information on the number of retired Gurkhas working as private security contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
161 former Gurkhas are working for a contractor providing security services at our Missions in Iraq. 299 are working for a contractor providing security services at our Missions in Afghanistan.
India
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department will make representations to the Indian government on the effects of bauxite mining on the Adivasi population in India; and if he will make a statement. [284457]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The EU maintains a constructive dialogue with the Indian authorities about human rights and minority rights issues. Officials from our high commission have had an active part in these discussions. The Department for International Development (DFID) has discussed the general rights and entitlements of tribal groups with Government of Orissa officials under the Orissa Tribal Empowerment and Livelihoods Programme part funded by DFID.
In light of the EU’s ongoing dialogue, we have no plans to make representations on the effects of bauxite mining on the Adivasi population bilaterally with the Indian Government.
Israel: Imports
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 15 September 2008, Official Report, column 2126W, on imports: Israel, for what reasons the Government is not seeking a prohibition on the importation of goods from illegal Israeli settlements other than under the Preferential Trade Agreement. [284588]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Government believe that the best way forward is to seek ways to offer consumers better advice on whether goods have been produced in illegal Israeli settlements. The Cabinet Office recently hosted a small roundtable meeting with representatives from food retailers and trading organisations. They discussed the draft of new, voluntary guidance on origin labelling of produce from the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is currently considering the next step of public consultation.
Members: Correspondence
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford of 6 April 2009 on his constituent, Ms Daphne Green of Chelmsford; and what the reason is for the time taken to reply. [284782]
Chris Bryant: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 2 July 2009, Official Report, column 386W. The reason for the delay in replying was the need to obtain legal advice for the response.
Middle East
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations his Department has made to the Israeli Government on the West Bank security barrier. [285072]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We continue to make clear to Israel that, while we recognise fully Israel’s right to self-defence and agree that if it decides to build a barrier, it should be able to do that, the barrier must be built either on or behind the green line.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the UK has made to the Government of Israel on the boarding of and removal of persons from a Free Gaza boat in international waters by Israeli forces; and if he will make a statement. [285104]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: I can confirm the Israeli navy boarded the vessel “Spirit of Humanity” on 30 June 2009. The Israeli navy took control of the vessel and diverted it to Ashdod port in Israel, where all those on board, including six British nationals, were handed over to Israeli immigration officials. All six were deported and arrived in the UK on 6 July 2009.
When my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke to his Israeli counterpart, Avigdor Lieberman, on 1 July 2009, he raised the issue with him and asked for clarification of whether the “Spirit of Humanity” had been intercepted in international waters.
Nepal: Internally Displaced Persons
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the government of Nepal on civilians who are missing following the conflict in that country in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [284013]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We regularly raise our concerns about human rights abuses with the Government of Nepal, both bilaterally and with the EU, at both official and ministerial level. This includes the issue of enforced and involuntary disappearances.
My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, raised our concerns about the human rights situation, including the need to make progress on investigations into the disappeared, with the then Nepalese Foreign Minister, Upendra Yadav, on 4 March 2009 in the margins of the 10th Human Rights Council Ministerial in Geneva. Lord Malloch-Brown specifically raised the case of Maina Sunuwar, the handling of which will be emblematic of many conflict-era disappearances. The UK also ensured that Nepal was specifically mentioned in the EU statement in the plenary of the 10th Human Rights Council.
Lord Malloch-Brown raised our concerns about the disappeared with Nepalese Foreign Secretary Acharya during his visit to Nepal in July 2008. He also raised the importance of transitional justice mechanisms with the National Human Rights Commission.
In Kathmandu, the EU missions have voiced their concerns on the draft Disappearances Bill prepared by the Government of Nepal, through press statements and high-level meetings. EU ambassadors also raised, in detail, the question of dealing with disappearances and the proposed Disappearances Commission with the Prime Minister and leaders of the four largest parties, in a series of discussions in January and February 2009.
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