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14 July 2009 : Column 332W—continued
Freedom of Information: Trident
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in respect of which his Department has disclosed information in the last 12 months have related to the replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system and its launch platform. [286851]
Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received no requests in the last 12 months under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 related to the replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system and its launch platform.
Iran: Internet
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) of 25 June 2009, Official Report, column 1072W, on Iran: internet, whether his Department has received reports of the Iranian Government using technology or software provided by British companies to inspect, monitor or filter internet content. [286034]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is not aware of any such reports.
Locate System
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's Locate system for tracking British travellers. [286855]
Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)'s overseas online registration and crisis database, Locate, enables British nationals to let the FCO know about their travel and residence outside of the UK. It is also a tool designed specifically for handling consular crises. Since its media launch in May 2008, the FCO website and Know Before You Go campaign literature has encouraged British travellers to use Locate. We have also used Locate successfully as part of our response to recent crises, most notably during the Sichuan earthquake and the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008.
An audit of Locate in March 2009 showed that many expatriate Britons around the world are registering with Locate and that our embassy staff are trained and ready to use the system in a crisis. The audit identified ways to improve Locate's functionality and better promote it. The results of the audit, and continual assessments of Locate's performance, are informing how we develop this important consular tool.
Royal Visits
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the participation on official visits sponsored by his Department of (a) the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall on visits to (i) South East Asia from 26 October to 5 November 2008 and (ii) Chile, Brazil and Equador from 7 to 18 March 2009 and (b) the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester on a visit to Tonga from 27 July to 6 August 2008; and if he will make a statement. [286136]
Chris Bryant: The Asia tour by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in October to November 2008 was highly effective in bolstering our relationships with important countries. The visit to Japan was the culmination of a year-long major UK-Japan festival marking the 150th anniversary of UK-Japan diplomatic relations. The environment and climate change were important themes, and a corporate leaders' group on climate change was established. In Brunei, the British garrison was a major feature along with initiatives to promote a low carbon, high growth, global economy. The key themes for the visit to Indonesia were climate change, environment and interfaith dialogue.
Their Royal Highnesses' Latin American tour in March 2009 was similarly effective. The visit to Chile encompassed environmental, social and defence issues; his Royal Highness participated in the launch of an energy efficiency programme for the young. The visit to Brazil centred on climate change and strengthened our growing relationship with this major regional player. It included constructive discussion on sustainable development in the Amazon. The visit to the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador marked the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 50th of the foundation of the Galapagos National Park, and was a special opportunity to highlight wildlife protection.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester visited Tonga in 2008 to represent Her Majesty the Queen at the coronation of King George Tupou V. It was particularly important that a member of the British Royal Family was present to bolster support for King George Tupou V's voluntary surrender of constitutional powers in order to make Tonga a constitutional monarchy. The tour also incorporated an official visit to the Solomon Islands to celebrate its 30th anniversary of independence.
Spirit of Humanity
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the Government of Israel over the interception in international waters by the Israeli navy of the Free Gaza ship, Spirit of Humanity and the subsequent detention in an Israeli port of the vessel and those on board; and if he will make a statement. [285849]
Mr. Ivan Lewis [holding answer 13 July 2009]: We are unable to confirm whether the Spirit of Humanity was intercepted in international waters or in Gazan waters. 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. Officials at our embassy in Tel Aviv confirm that they were given good access to the British nationals arrested by the Israelis and that they were all treated well during their detention. The Israeli authorities deported the British nationals on 6 July 2009 and they are now back in the UK.
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