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21 July 2009 : Column 1257W—continued
Lithuania: Sexuality
Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Lithuanian Government on the effect of recent changes to Lithuanian law on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in that country. [288820]
Chris Bryant: The Government are disappointed that on 14 July 2009 the Lithuanian Parliament overruled the veto of their outgoing President, Valdas Adamkus, and passed the controversial law on the Protection of Minors against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information.
The new law contains a clause which classifies "agitating in favour" of homosexual or bisexual relationships as potentially harmful to the development of minors. Our ambassador to Lithuania, together with EU partners, has expressed our concerns about this law, including in a meeting with President Adamkus on 22 June 2009. Lithuania's incoming President, Dalia Grybauskaite, is obliged to sign the Bill into law.
The Government welcome President Grybauskaite's statement that she disapproves of aspects of the law and will take all legal measures to seek its improvement. We will continue to work with EU partners to ensure that Lithuania satisfies its human rights obligations.
Lord Malloch-Brown: Official Residences
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Lord Malloch-Brown plans to vacate Flat 2, Admiralty House; and what use is envisaged for the property after it is vacated. [287424]
Chris Bryant: Lord Malloch-Brown intends to vacate his ministerial residence on 27 July 2009.
With regard to the future use of the property, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 20 July 2009, Official Report, column 770W.
Middle East: Armed Conflict
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether evidence has been reported to him of war crimes being committed in Gaza by (a) the Israeli Defence Force and (b) Hamas. [288379]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: There are several reports in the public domain submitted by various international organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on the issue of alleged war crimes committed by both sides during the recent Gaza conflict. The most recent report of 2 July 2009 from Amnesty alleges that breaches of international humanitarian law were committed by both Israel and Hamas.
As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has continued to state since 12 January 2009, we take seriously all allegations of breaches of international humanitarian law during the Gaza conflict and have consistently stated that they should be properly investigated.
Morocco: Fishery Agreements
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Moroccan fishing zones referred to in the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement are those in the Moroccan Exclusive Economic Zone. [288002]
Huw Irranca-Davies: I have been asked to reply.
The Moroccan fishing zones referred to in the EU Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement are the Atlantic waters of the Moroccan EEZ. They do not cover the Mediterranean waters of Morocco's EEZ.
Palestinians: Israel
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he (a) has taken and (b) plans to take during the next 12 months at the United Nations in respect of recognition by the Palestinian Authority of the State of Israel as a Jewish state; and if he will make a statement. [287521]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We welcome the fact that the Palestinian Authority recognises the state of Israel and is prepared to negotiate a peace deal with it.
The nature of the state of Israel, and the role that religion plays, are matters for Israelis, although we would expect Israel to respect the rights of minorities as undertaken in Israel's declaration of independence and basic laws. We welcome the fact that the Israeli Government have not said that Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state should be a precondition for entering negotiations with the Palestinians.
The UK position is clear that a comprehensive peace should be based on two states, living side by side within secure and agreed borders based on those of 1967, with
Jerusalem as the capital for both states. Such a solution is the only way to do justice to the national aspirations of the Jewish people and of the Palestinians.
The two-state solution was envisioned in UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1850 of 16 December 2008, which the UK supported, and reaffirmed by the UK-led UNSCR 1860 of 8 January 2009. The UK will continue to make this position clear in future UN discussions.
Shanghai World Expo
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to attend the Shanghai World Expo 2010 event. [287021]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Government are committed to giving full support to Shanghai Expo 2010. Questions of ministerial attendance have not yet been finalised.
Spirit of Humanity
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to complete his investigation into the Spirit of Humanity interception; and by what means he plans to communicate his findings to hon. Members. [288870]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised this issue with the Israeli Foreign Minister on 1 July 2009. We have also raised this with officials from the Israeli embassy in London and await further clarification.
Sri Lanka
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made an assessment of humanitarian conditions in the Manik Farm camp in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement. [287108]
Mr. Michael Foster: I have been asked to reply.
There are an estimated 284,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Manik Farm camp. The Department for International Development's (DFID) humanitarian experts' latest assessment is that the conditions in the camp remain basic but continue to improve as the priority needs of shelter, food, medicine and immediate access to surgical treatment are gradually met. However, we are increasingly concerned about the lack of freedom of movement for the IDP population and the restrictions put on protection activities, such as ensuring the safety of the IDPs and reuniting children with their families.
I also refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made on 14 July, Official Report; column 12-13WS. This sets out DFID's current position on the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka: International Assistance
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the International
Monetary Fund on the proposed emergency loan package to the Sri Lankan Government; and if he will make a statement. [288634] [Official Report, 9 September 2009, Vol. 496, c. 34-36MC.]
Mr. Timms: I have been asked to reply.
The Government are deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka and are also committed to helping Sri Lanka avoid an economic crisis that would impact most on Sri Lanka's poor.
The Chancellor is in close contact with the IMF and with ministerial colleagues, especially the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for International Development.
The International Monetary Fund has not yet presented a programme for Sri Lanka. Once a programme is presented, it will be assessed on its merits and the situation on the ground in Sri Lanka at the time.
Ukraine: Monuments
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the report by Major J. Dart on the monuments and sites significant to United Kingdom military history in the Crimea; and if he will make a statement. [287691]
Chris Bryant [holding answer 20 July 2009]: I have placed a copy of Major Dart's report in the Library. There have been a number of developments since this report was written in May 2007.
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 under way 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.
Work and Pensions
Asbestos
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what assessment her Department has made of the health risks to (a) a child aged five years and (b) an adult aged 30 years from an exposure to 48 fibres of (i) crocidolite and (ii) amosite per millilitre of air in a 12-week period; [288723]
(2) what assessment her Department has made of the risk of (a) a child aged five years and (b) and adult aged 30 years developing mesothelioma as a consequence of exposure to asbestos; [288724]
(3) what assessment she has made of the health risks to (a) a child aged five years and (b) an adult aged 30 years from an exposure to 72 fibres of chrysotile per millilitre of air in a 12-week period. [288832]
Jonathan Shaw: The information requested could be produced only at disproportionate cost as it is currently not available or cannot be produced on a sound scientific basis in respect of a five-year-old.
The exposures in the question appear to relate to the "action levels" in the 2002 Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations which are no longer current. The current limit in the 2006 regulations is lower at 0.1 fibres per millilitre of air averaged over a four-hour period. Irrespective of this limit the regulations require exposures to be reduced to the lowest reasonably practicable level below 0.1 fibres per millilitre.
Risk assessment models are available for mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer. These can be used to assess risk for given levels of exposure, exposure durations, types of asbestos, and the age at which exposure occurs-but only within the working age range.
Attendance Allowance
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claimed attendance allowance in (a) Vale of York constituency and (b) England in (i) 1980, (ii) 1997, (iii) 2001, (iv) 2005 and (v) 2008. [286003]
Jonathan Shaw: The available information is in the following table:
| Attendance allowance-cases in payment | ||
| Date | Vale of York parliamentary constituency | England |
| Notes: 1. The information is not available for 1980. 2. Figures taken from the 100 per cent data. (November 2005 and November 2008) are rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Figures for November 1997 and November 2001 are based on 5 per cent. sample caseload data, adjusted to 100 per cent. caseload data and rounded to the nearest 100, and are subject to sampling error. 4. Figures show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study and 5 per cent. sample | ||
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the monetary value of attendance allowance paid to residents from (a) the Vale of York and (b) England was in (i) 1980, (ii) 1997, (iii) 2001, (iv) 2005 and (v) 2008. [287393]
Jonathan Shaw: The available information is in the table.
Carer's Allowance
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have claimed carer's allowance in (a) St Ives constituency, (b) Cornwall and (c) England in each of the last five years. [287975]
Jonathan Shaw: The available information is in the following table.
| Number of people who became entitled to Carer's Allowance | |||
| St. Ives parliamentary constituency | Cornwall | England | |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Figures exclude some short term flows not captured by the relevant scans. 3. Figures exclude flows where people move out of one area and into another while remaining on the benefit. 4. Figures include people with entitlement but who do not actually receive Carer's Allowance, for example, because of the overlapping benefits rule. Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study | |||
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