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20 Oct 2009 : Column 1379W—continued
Vietnam: Overseas Aid
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid his Department plans to send to victims of the recent flooding in Vietnam. [293842]
Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) is contributing to relief funding by the European Commission (16 per cent. of this is attributed to DFID). The European Commission has allocated €2 million for Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. In Vietnam, the funding is being used to support relief efforts by non-governmental organisations in the affected areas.
DFID is also supporting strategic programmes aimed at disaster risk reduction in Vietnam. This is implemented through support to the United Nations in Vietnam as well as the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery with the World Bank.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Iran's Nuclear Programme
14. Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment is of the development of Iran's nuclear programme; and if he will make a statement. [293915]
David Miliband: We remain extremely concerned about Iran's nuclear programme. In August the IAEA Director General reported that Iran had not suspended its enrichment activities contrary to the requirements of five UNSCRs and still refuses to answer questions about studies with a possible military dimension.
The fact that Iran has been covertly developing an enrichment facility near Qom, in breach of UN and IAEA obligations, casts further doubt on their peaceful intentions.
Afghanistan
15. Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the new UK foreign policy strategy for Afghanistan. [293916]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: As a top foreign policy priority, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary frequently discusses Afghanistan and Pakistan with his counterparts. Discussions regularly cover the strategy approach announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 29 April 2009, Official Report, column 869. There is broad international agreement on the importance of addressing the situation in both countries, and on the need to seek political solutions alongside military ones.
Trade Unions: Iraq
16. Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on trade union rights in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [293917]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We have supported, and will continue to do so, the efforts of all Iraqis to build trade unions across the workplace and free from government intervention, the rights to which are enshrined in their constitution. We have made clear to the Iraqi Government our view that the right to form free and fair unions is a fundamental right.
Gaza
17. Mr. Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure early consideration by the United Nations of the report of the United Nations fact finding mission on the Gaza conflict. [293918]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The report of the UN fact finding mission on the Gaza conflict has already been considered by the UN. It was discussed in an open meeting of the Security Council on 14 October 2009 and by a Special Session of the Human Rights Council on 15 and 16 October 2009. As we made clear in those discussions, while we have concerns about aspects of the report, there are serious issues remaining about both parties' conduct during Operation Cast Lead.
European Parliament
18. Mr. Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Government's work with political groups in the European Parliament. [293919]
Chris Bryant: Both Ministers and officials continue to engage effectively with the European Parliament at all levels in order to promote UK interests and secure the best outcomes for our citizens. The Government have a strategic plan for this engagement. Since June's European Parliament elections, we have averaged one ministerial visit in each week when the Parliament has been sitting.
Non-proliferation Treaty
19. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the 2010 non-proliferation treaty review conference. [293920]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discusses the 2010 NPT review conference regularly with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Mrs. Clinton said on 11 October 2009 after their most recent meeting that British leadership had been pivotal in the run up to the historic Security Council session on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament chaired by President Barack Obama on 24 September 2009.
West Bank
20. David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the United States Administration on the security situation in the West Bank. [293921]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton most recently on 11 October 2009. Their conversation focused on the need for all parties to exercise restraint and to calm tensions in Jerusalem, and the need to launch negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The UK and US work together to give strong support to the Palestinian Authority's work to improve the capability of and reform the Palestinian security forces. We commend the Palestinian Authority for the improvements it has made, which have delivered real changes in the lives of many on the West Bank.
EU Budget
21. Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of progress towards reform of the EU budget; and if he will make a statement. [293922]
Chris Bryant: The Government remain committed to far-reaching reform of the EU budget refocusing it on jobs and growth; tackling climate change; and, ensuring security, stability and poverty reduction. We look forward to the publication of the European Commission's Budget Review White Paper, which will likely set out recommendations for the future of the budget. The Council will discuss these recommendations in late 2009 and 2010.
Macedonia
22. Mr. Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government are providing support to the Government of Macedonia in their application for membership of the European Union. [293923]
Chris Bryant: The UK strongly supports Macedonia's EU membership aspirations and welcomes the Commission's recent recommendation to open accession negotiations.
The Government co-operate with EU partners to encourage the required reforms in Macedonia. Alongside its contribution to financing programmes under the EU's Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA), the Government are providing bilateral support in 2009-10 of around £890,000.
UK projects include work designed to improve Macedonia's public administrative capacity, strengthen its Parliament and help fight corruption.
Economic Recovery: EU
23. Mr. Plaskitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the co-ordination of policy on the EU's economic recovery with other EU member states. [293924]
Chris Bryant: My right hon. Friends the Chancellor and Foreign Secretary discuss the co-ordination of the EU's economic recovery regularly in meetings of the Cabinet and the National Economic Council.
Zimbabwe
24. Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the progress of the Government of National Unity in Zimbabwe. [293925]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Government of Zimbabwe have made some progress, most notably on the stabilisation of the economy. Progress on political reform has been slower. We continue to urge the Government of Zimbabwe to meet their commitments under the Global Political Agreements; notably to media, electoral, legislative, judicial and security sector reform, and to address the issue of the appointments of the Central Bank Governor, Attorney-General and Provincial Governors.
Bahrain
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest assessment is of the state of relations between the UK and the Government of Bahrain. [294486]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The UK has a long-standing and strong relationship with Bahrain. But we are always considering ways in which we can make even stronger our political, defence, cultural and trade relations to mutual benefit.
Children: Kidnapping
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of children abducted from the UK in each of the last five years who are being held in Japan; and if he will make a statement. [294490]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We are aware of the following cases involving British children who have been abducted to Japan in the last five years.
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Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage the Government of Japan to sign the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction; and if he will make a statement. [294491]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: I welcomed the Japanese Government's announcement last year that it was considering ratifying the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. We have made frequent representations to the Japanese Government on the issue.
On 16 October 2009 our ambassador took part with representatives of a number of other embassies in a joint demarche on Japanese Justice Minister Chiba, calling on Japan to accede to the Convention. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary encouraged Japan to sign the Convention when he met the Japanese Foreign Secretary Okada on 22 September 2009. My Noble
Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Lord Mandelson also raised this issue with the Japanese Prime Minister on 5 October 2009. Our embassy in Tokyo has been regularly taking joint action together with other embassies, including the Canadian, French, US and Italian embassies.
Cyprus
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of (a) Cyprus, (b) Greece and (c) Turkey on cancelling of the annual military exercises conducted in Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [293709]
Chris Bryant: Both the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot leadership announced on 13 October 2009 the cancellation of the Toros and Nikiforos military exercises respectively. The Government applauds this decision which is a positive development and shows what can be achieved through trust and co-operation.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for progress towards a settlement in Cyprus of the policy of the new PASOK Government in Greece on such a settlement; and if he will make a statement. [R] [293720]
Chris Bryant: We believe that the new Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) Government in Greece will be supportive of the two leaders' efforts to achieve a settlement. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed Cyprus with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou on 15 October 2009 and both reiterated their support for the settlement process.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of progress on the negotiations towards a settlement in Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [R] [293723]
Chris Bryant: The leaders of the two communities have shown a strong commitment to the Cyprus talks process. We welcome their recent decision to meet more regularly and urge both leaders to intensify their efforts to ensure this unique opportunity is not missed.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with international partners on the funding of a possible settlement in Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [293725]
Chris Bryant: The Government have had no recent discussions with international partners on the funding of a possible settlement. This is an important issue which will need to be addressed as the talks progress.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of progress in the opening of the Limnitis crossing point in Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [293726]
Chris Bryant: We welcome the agreement of the leaders of the two communities to open the Limnitis crossing point and have been following subsequent developments closely. We consider this initiative to be a valuable contribution to the building of mutual trust between the two sides.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the Famagusta Mayors' proposals to restore the historic walls of Famagusta and to conduct a survey of the work required to restore the infrastructure of Varosha; and if he will make a statement. [293727]
Chris Bryant: We attach importance to the restoration of historic monuments, including the historic walls of Famagusta. We believe that work, both to restore Famagusta and to plan for eventual resettlement of Varosha, would be useful confidence building measures.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made on the planned erection and unveiling of a memorial in Northern Cyprus to British people killed in the Cyprus war of independence; and if he will make a statement. [293728]
Chris Bryant: This is an independent initiative undertaken by the British Cyprus Veterans Association to commemorate the British servicemen who died in the 1950s. The memorial will be unveiled on 8 November 2009.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of recent progress in the remaining phases of the opening of the Ledra Street crossing point in Nicosia; and if he will make a statement. [293732]
Chris Bryant: We are following this issue closely and stand ready to support the UN's efforts to achieve agreement.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made by the UN committee on missing persons in Cyprus in recovering and identifying remains of missing persons; and if he will make a statement. [293734]
Chris Bryant: The UN committee on missing persons reported that, as of 15 October 2009, the remains of 570 people had been exhumed from different burial sites across the island. Of these, the remains of 179 individuals had been identified and returned to their families, of which 135 were Greek Cypriots and 44 Turkish Cypriots.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what grants the UK has given to the UN missing persons committee in Cyprus since its inception; if he will make an assessment of the merits of providing a further grant to support that committee's work; and if he will make a statement. [293735]
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