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20 July 2009 : Column 958W—continued
Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he received reports on the export of nuclear weapons technology, blueprints and fissionable material by the Kahuta Nuclear Research Institute in Pakistan to (a) Iran, (b) Libya, (c) North Korea and (d) Saudi Arabia; and what steps he has taken in response to those reports. [286818]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: In 2003 reports suggested that AQ Khan, who headed the Kahuta Nuclear Research Institute, supplied technology that could be used to make nuclear weapons to some of the countries mentioned. There is no evidence that Khan provided technology to Saudi Arabia. The UK played a leading role in Libya's renunciation of weapons of mass destruction in December 2003 and we support all the UN Security Council Resolutions in place with regards to Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Pakistan: Armed Conflict
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Pakistani counterpart on Pakistan's policies in the Swat Valley; and what steps he has taken to seek to establish peace in that area. [287548]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the situation in the Swat Valley on his recent visit to Pakistan with a wide range of Government of Pakistan officials, including President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani.
The Foreign Secretary also discussed with the Government of Pakistan the need for military gains to be followed by reconstruction and development and commitment to a long-term political strategy for improving governance, justice and services and addressing the roots of militancy.
The UK is working bilaterally and with international partners through the Friends of Democratic Pakistan to support the Government of Pakistan to deliver such a strategy. The UK, through the Department for International Development, has given £22 million in immediate humanitarian assistance for internally displaced people. We continue to lobby international partners to increase their contributions.
Pakistan: Crimes of Violence
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with his Pakistani counterpart on the attack on Christians in Bahmani Wala on 30 June 2009; and if he will make a statement. [287085]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We are concerned about reports that members of the Christian community in Bahmani Wala, Pakistan have been attacked. The UK supports freedom of religion and condemns persecution because of faith or beliefs. Incidents such as the attack in Bahmani Wala are an example of the sectarian violence and violent extremism that feed the discrimination faced by religious minorities.
With our EU partners, we regularly raise our concerns with the Government of Pakistan over the situation of religious minorities in Pakistan and we will continue to do so. The most recent EU demarche in December 2008 called upon the Government of Pakistan to promote tolerance, and take measures to protect freedom of religion or belief. This demarche also called for the reform of discriminatory legislation and urged the Minister for Minority Affairs to raise awareness about abuses against minorities and to increase their political representation at all levels.
Bilaterally, both in London and through our High Commission, officials regularly raise the treatment of minorities with their Pakistani interlocutors and will continue to do so. My hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Gillian Merron), the former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, met Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan's Minister for Minority Affairs, during her visit to Pakistan in February 2009. She raised concerns about the difficulties faced by religious minorities in Pakistan, and the misuse of blasphemy legislation.
Palestinians
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received recent reports of Palestinians working in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory being subject to (a) restrictions on their involvement, (b) detention, (c) removal of their work permits, (d) the loss of land and (e) other forms of coercion by Israeli soldiers. [287156]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We follow closely the situation of Palestinians across the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. But we have not received specific reports relating to Palestinians working in settlements.
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports his Department has received of the terms and conditions of employment of (a) Palestinian, (b) Israeli and (c) Thai workers employed on the Israeli settlements of the occupied Palestinian territory. [287159]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Department has not received such reports.
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 July 2009, Official Report, column 632W, on Palestinians, what response he has received from his Israeli counterpart to his call for Israel to freeze settlement construction; and following the demolition of houses in East Jerusalem, if he will call for the suspension of the EU/Israel Association Agreement. [287259]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: There is still the need for more movement from Israel, including a complete freeze in settlement construction, in line with Israel's Roadmap commitments. We will continue to make our position clear both publicly and privately.
On the second point, EU Foreign Ministers emphasised on 15 June 2009 that an upgrade in the relationship must be set against the context of our shared interests and objectives, including progress on the middle east peace process. The EU proposed that the current plan should remain in place for the time being.
Palestinians: Children
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received recent reports of the use of child labour in the occupied Palestinian territory. [287154]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We have received no such reports.
Palestinians: Israel
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment his Department has made of the working conditions of Palestinians employed in the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory; and on what evidential basis the assessment was made. [287158]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We have made no such assessment.
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the number of businesses in Israeli settlements which export goods or produce to the UK which have been built on Palestinian private property. [287162]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We have made no such assessment.
Ports: Non-Domestic Rates
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations his Department has received from French companies operating in Britain on business rates in relation to British ports. [284176]
Ms Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
We have received one representation from a British registered company which is a subsidiary of a French company.
Russia: Diplomatic Service
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many locally employed British embassy staff in Russia have immunity from jurisdiction under Article 38.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961. [287300]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: No locally employed members of staff at British diplomatic missions in the Russian Federation have immunity under Article 38 (1) of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961.
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the merits of conferring diplomatic status on non-Diplomatic Service staff employed by UK posts in the Russian Federation in accordance with the Diplomatic Service Regulations 2006. [287301]
Chris Bryant: Staff are appointed under article 7 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961, according to the functions they perform at the mission. In practice, the privileges and immunities staff enjoy stem from the receiving state's recognition that they have been appropriately classified, in line with their functions.
The diplomatic service regulations do not apply to locally engaged staff who are employed on local terms and conditions, governed by local law and practice.
Sri Lanka
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has discussed the application of economic sanctions to Sri Lanka with his counterparts in other governments in the last two years. [287204]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We have held wide ranging discussions with partners in the international community on the situation in Sri Lanka, but there have been no formal discussions at the EU or UN on economic sanctions. There are currently no economic embargoes or sanctions in place against Sri Lanka. It is important to ensure any action does not adversely affect the Sri Lankan people themselves.
Sri Lanka: Human Rights
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of recent reports of human rights abuses in refugee camps in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement. [287381]
Mr. Ivan Lewis:
We are increasingly concerned about the lack of freedom of movement in the camps for internally displaced persons (IDP) and the restrictions put on protection activities, including ensuring the safety
of the IDPs, reuniting unaccompanied children with their families and registration of the IDP population as a whole.
We continue to encourage the Government of Sri Lanka to do everything possible to ensure the civilian nature of the camps and allow humanitarian agencies to operate effectively on the ground. I refer to the written ministerial statement by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for International Development (Mr. Thomas) on 14 July 2009 Official Report, columns 12-13WS, which contains further information on the latest humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the UN Human Rights Council on a full investigation into alleged human rights abuses during the recent conflict in Sri Lanka. [287382]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: During the UN Human Rights Council Special Session on 26-27 May 2009, the UK made clear our concerns about events in Sri Lanka during the recent conflict. We believe it is important there should be an independent investigation into what happened because the extent of civilian casualties during the conflict remains unclear. The UK and the EU did our utmost to reach a consensual outcome at the Special Session and we are disappointed that the adopted resolution did not address many of our concerns.
A copy of the UK's full statement can be found here:
In addition, the UK endorses the EU's calls of 18 May 2009 for an independent inquiry into possible violations of international humanitarian law. It is important that any investigation is credible and transparent.
Sri Lanka: International Assistance
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the government of Sri Lanka on access of aid agencies to refugee camps in that country. [287380]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: In addition to the recent representations outlined by my hon. Friend the Minister of State at the Department for International Development (Mr. Michael Foster) in his reply of 13 July 2009, Official Report, column 32W, we continue to raise the issue of access to the camps with the Government of Sri Lanka and have urged them to work in partnership with the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian agencies to address the ongoing needs of internally displaced persons (IDP).
My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, also released a statement on 9 July 2009 urging the Government of Sri Lanka to continue its dialogue with the Red Cross in relation to the civilians in IDP camps. A copy of the statement can be found here:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/newsroom/latest-news/?view= PressS&id=20551605
Ukraine: Embassies
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will assess the merits of establishing a network of honorary consuls in Ukraine. [286928]
Chris Bryant: We have no honorary consuls in Ukraine, and there are currently no plans to establish such a network.
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consular provision there is for UK citizens (a) residing in and (b) visiting the Crimea region of Ukraine; and if he will make a statement. [286929]
Chris Bryant: Our embassy in Kiev provides consular assistance to British nationals residing in or visiting Ukraine, including the Crimea region.
Ukraine: Monuments
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the condition of the war memorial and its immediate surroundings at Cathcart Hill, near Sevastopol; and what information his Department holds on (a) the terms under which the memorial is maintained and (b) the body responsible for its maintenance. [286982]
Chris Bryant:
Our embassy in Kyiv, in conjunction with local Sevastopol authorities, has been actively seeking a successful resolution to the long-standing issue of the Cathcart Hill monument. This private monument was built by a local entrepreneur in 1993 supported by
public subscription, but has fallen into disrepair due to weathering, vandalism, theft and lack of maintenance by its owner.
Following the efforts of the embassy, the land on which the monument stands and associated historical artefacts have now been transferred to the ownership of the Sevastopol City Administration, a prerequisite for the expenditure of Ukrainian state funds. Work is now underway for the official British Crimean War memorial near the village of Dergachi to become the focus for official commemoration with the complex at Cathcart Hill being simplified to become a place for quiet contemplation.
Western Sahara
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to ensure that the rights of the Saharawi population of Western Sahara to enjoy specific natural resources, as stated in Article 1 of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, are fulfilled. [288001]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Government believe that progress towards a negotiated solution to the dispute in Western Sahara, providing for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, is best achieved under the auspices of the UN. In accordance with UN Security Resolution 1871 of 30 April 2009, the UK fully supports the efforts of the UN Secretary General and his Personal Envoy, Christopher Ross, to facilitate a negotiated solution to the conflict.
The UK maintains its position that Morocco, as the de facto administering power of Western Sahara, is obliged under international law to ensure that economic activities under administration-including the extraction and exportation of natural resources-do not adversely affect the interests of the people in Western Sahara.
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