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19 Oct 2009 : Column 1242W—continued
Cyprus: Visits Abroad
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) visits to and (b) meetings with Turkish Cypriots resident in the part of Cyprus governed by the Republic of Cyprus his Department has undertaken; and if he will make a statement. [293721]
Chris Bryant: Our high commission in Nicosia regularly visits and meets with a number of interlocutors from across the island. It is not possible to quantify the number of meetings and visits nor the residency and ethnicity of those people met.
Gaza: United Nations Fact Finding Mission
Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made any representations to the government of Israel consequent upon the report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza conflict. [293678]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu on 18 September 2009 and again on 14 October 2009. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke to Defence Minister Barak on 29 September 2009 and 13 October 2009.
We have made clear that, while the Goldstone report has its flaws, there are serious allegations against both Hamas and Israel. Israel has undertaken a number of investigations. But we do not believe these have yet adequately addressed the concerns. We urge Israel to investigate allegations fully and credibly to ensure that there is full accountability for any breaches of the rule of law.
Greece: Cyprus
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Greece on a political settlement in Cyprus in the last 12 months. [293713]
Chris Bryant: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had frequent discussions with the Government of Greece in the last 12 months on a Cyprus settlement, most recently with the Greek Prime Minister on 14 October 2009.
Guinea
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances he has received from the Government of Guinea that the investigation into the violence which took place at an Opposition rally on 28 September 2009 will be independent and impartial; and if he will make a statement. [293777]
David Miliband: The military-led Government in Guinea has offered to investigate the violence which took place at an opposition rally on 28 September 2009. However, the International Contact Group for Guinea, of which the UK is an active member, has recommended that any investigation needs to be independent, impartial and should be international in nature. We support this position and are consulting with the African Union, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other international partners about how such an investigation might be taken forward.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with members of the Africa Union on the situation in Guinea following the violence at an Opposition rally on 28 September 2009; and if he will make a statement. [293778]
David Miliband: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have been in close touch with the African Union through the International Contact Group for Guinea, including at the Group's last meeting in Abuja, Nigeria on 12 October 2009. Officials will also be discussing the situation with the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa. We will continue to work closely with our partners in the African Union and with the West African regional body, the Economic Community of Western African States, to support their efforts to secure a peaceful resolution to the current tensions in Guinea.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to monitor the political situation in Guinea following the violence at an Opposition rally on 28 September 2009; and if he will make a statement. [293781]
David Miliband: Our ambassador in Guinea is an active member of the International Contact Group on Guinea and has maintained a constant dialogue with EU and G8 partners on the ground in order to ensure the UK fully monitors the political situation in Guinea. Our ambassadors in the region are also in contact with President Chambas of the Economic Community of West African States and the Governments of Guinea's neighbours.
Iraq
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps the Government has taken in co-operation with the United States Administration to improve the security of civilians in Iraq. [293311]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Following the end of Combat Operations in April 2009, the UK continues to provide training and assistance to all of Iraq's security forces in conjunction with allies and partners. In-country activity includes: providing forensic training to the Iraqi police service; contributing UK police officers to the EU's JUSTLEX rule of law project; providing military training to the Iraqi army through the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Training Mission-Iraq (NTM-I) and we will also shortly recommence training and support to the Iraqi navy alongside US forces following the ratification of a UK-Iraq co-operation agreement. Activities in the UK include Iraqi attendance at a range of police and military training courses.
Iraq: Security
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Iraq. [293317]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Recent attacks, including on 19 August 2009 in Baghdad and on 11 October 2009 in Ramadi, show that terrorist groups are still trying to undermine the significant progress made in Iraq over recent years. Nevertheless, the overall security in Iraq continues to improve as the capability of the Iraqi security forces grows. Importantly, the Iraqi people in provincial and Kurdish regional elections this year chose leaders who promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law over those who offer nothing but violence. January 2010's national election will provide further proof of this.
Middle East: Armed Conflict
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government plan to take in response to the findings of the UN inquiry by Judge Goldstone into human rights abuses during the Gaza conflict. [291965]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu on 18 September 2009 and again on 14 October 2009. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke to Defence Minister Barak on 29 September 2009 and 13 October 2009.
We have made clear that, while the Goldstone report has its flaws, there are serious allegations against both Hamas and Israel. Israel has undertaken a number of investigations. But we do not believe these have yet adequately addressed the concerns. We urge Israel to investigate allegations fully and credibly to ensure that there is full accountability for any breaches of the rule of law.
Northern Cyprus
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Immovable Property Commission in providing a remedy for Greek Cypriots in respect of property in Northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [293716]
Chris Bryant: The Immovable Property Commission (IPC) was set up in 2005 in an attempt to provide a local remedy to the disputed ownership of properties in Cyprus. There are currently eight test cases under review in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), with the aim of identifying whether the IPC can be used as an effective local remedy. It is for the ECHR to decide whether the IPC offers an effective local remedy.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent estimate is of the number of (a) Greek Cypriots who have made a claim to the Immovable Property Commission in Northern Cyprus and (b) cases which have been resolved by that commission with (i) exchange of property, (ii) restitution and (iii) compensation; and if he will make a statement. [293717]
Chris Bryant: According to figures recently released, over the past three years 422 applications have been made to the Immovable Property Commission (IPC). Of these, 75 cases have been resolved: two were resolved with compensation and exchange; four with compensation and restitution; one for restitution after a settlement; and the remainder with compensation.
Nothern Cyprus: Property
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to amend the advice on his Department's website concerning the purchase of property in Northern Cyprus to take account of recent judgments of the European Court of Justice; and if he will make a statement. [293650]
Chris Bryant: Our travel advice warns of possible legal proceedings as a result of purchasing disputed properties in the north of Cyprus and strongly advises British citizens to take qualified and independent legal advice before purchasing such property. The Government's travel advice is constantly reviewed in light of changing events and will be updated as necessary.
Overseas Aid: Domestic Violence
Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what the largest sum allocated by his Department to an overseas project to tackle domestic violence, specifying amounts, organisations and outcomes, was in each year since 2001; [292778]
(2) what plans he has for future spending on projects to tackle domestic violence overseas. [292779]
Chris Bryant:
The Department for International Development leads on this issue globally and supports a range of initiatives aimed at tackling violence against women, including domestic violence, through its
development assistance programmes. This has included work in Ghana and Sierra Leone supporting the implementation of new legislation on domestic violence; and in Nepal, providing technical assistance to the Prime Minister's Office on the National Campaign to end gender based violence.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has funded one related project on domestic violence overseas in the recent past. This was a three-year community policing project being run in Russia between 2006 and 2009 (at a cost of approximately £300,000) by the Global Opportunities Fund for Human Rights. The aim of the project was to train police officers on prevention of community and domestic violence, working with Justices of the Peace, Non-Governmental Organisations and relevant municipal organisations, to reduce domestic violence.
The FCO's Human Rights and Democracy Strategic Programme Fund supports projects on equality, including tackling the structural and institutional roots of gender discrimination through effective implementation of international law, but we do not have dedicated funds for tackling domestic violence and sexual abuse overseas.
South Atlantic Invasive Species Project
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there are plans to extend the South Atlantic Invasive Species project beyond December 2009. [293297]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The South Atlantic Invasive Species project is funded by the EU through European Development Funds. We are not aware of the EU's plans to fund the project beyond December 2009.
St. Helena: Electricity
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 20 May 2009, Official Report, column 522W, on St. Helena: wind power, what targets have been set to meet St. Helena's electricity needs through wind power. [293420]
Chris Bryant: The wind power programme on St. Helena is the responsibility of St. Helena Government. St. Helena currently generates 25 MWh (3-4 per cent. of the total energy consumption) through wind power and has projected wind generation of 70 MWh (10 per cent. of consumption) per month from April 2010 when it is anticipated that all six turbines on St. Helena will be in operation.
Turks and Caicos Islands: Politics and Government
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of constitutional developments in the Turks and Caicos Islands; and if he will make a statement. [293305]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement of 12 October 2009, Official Report, column 9WS.
UN Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in assessing the potential impact of ratification of the UN Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance on UK law; when he expects the assessment to be completed; and if he will introduce primary legislation to permit the UK to ratify the Convention. [293125]
Mr. Wills: I have been asked to reply.
The Government support the International Convention and believe that it will have an important role in preventing enforced disappearance and secret detention in the future. The UK played an active part in the negotiations prior to the drafting of the convention and supported its adoption in 2008 at the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly.
The UK is prepared to give its signature to treaties only when it has a clear intention to ratify within a reasonable timescale. The Government are conscious of the potentially significant impact of the convention in the domestic context, and we are therefore continuing our detailed assessment of the provisions of the convention and their effect across all areas of UK law and policy.
In particular, we are analysing the extent to which common law provisions may need to be replicated in statute law; whether any new criminal offences would need to be introduced; and whether the UK would enter any reservations or declarations on ratification.
Ratification will require primary legislation to facilitate changes to domestic law and the introduction of such primary legislation will depend on securing parliamentary time. The complexity of the issues still under consideration means that we are not setting a deadline for completion of our analysis, but work is being progressed as rapidly as possible.
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the Government to ratify the UN Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance; and what the reasons are for the time taken. [293129]
Mr. Wills: I have been asked to reply.
The Government support the International Convention and believes that it will have an important role in preventing enforced disappearance and secret detention in the future. The UK played an active part in the negotiations prior to the drafting of the Convention and supported its adoption in 2008 at the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly.
The UK is prepared to give its signature to treaties only when it has a clear intention to ratify within a reasonable timescale. The Government are conscious of the potentially significant impact of the Convention in the domestic context, and we are therefore continuing our detailed assessment of the provisions of the Convention and their effect across all areas of UK law and policy.
In particular, we are analysing the extent to which common law provisions may need to be replicated in statute law; whether any new criminal offences would need to be introduced; and whether the UK would enter any reservations or declarations on ratification.
Ratification will require primary legislation to facilitate changes to domestic law and the introduction of such primary legislation will depend on securing parliamentary time. The complexity of the issues still under consideration means that we are not setting a deadline for completion of our analysis, but work is being progressed as rapidly as possible.
USA: Nuclear Weapons
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the US administration on the international threat of nuclear proliferation. [293318]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discusses nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regularly with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and did so most recently on 11 October 2009. Mrs. Clinton said after that meeting that British leadership had been pivotal in the run up to the historic UN Security Council session on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament chaired by President Barack Obama. The Council unanimously adopted UN resolution 1887 that affirmed its commitment to work toward a world without nuclear weapons.
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