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2 Nov 2009 : Column 655W—continued
Departmental Buildings
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many properties his Department owns overseas; and what recent estimate he has made of the monetary value of his Department's overseas estate; [292501]
(2) which 20 properties his Department owns overseas have the highest valuations; and what the valuation of each such property is. [292502]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) owns 2,119 properties overseas on a freehold or ground leasehold basis. The top 20 overseas properties by market value are set out in the following table:
| Market value of top 20 FCO Overseas Properties as at 31 March 2009 | |
| Property name | Market value rate (£ million) |
| Notes:(1 )Includes value of the Bangkok residence on the compound at £18.8 million. (2) Includes value of the Hong Kong Consulate-General building on compound at £31.2 million. (3) Includes value of the Kuwait City management building on the compound at £26 million. (4) Includes value of the Rome residence on compound at £41.8 million. (5) Includes value of the Buenos Aires residence on compound at£44 million. (6) Includes value of the Cairo residence on the compound at £21.3 million. (7) Includes value of the Rome embassy on the compound at £23.2 million. | |
These are the current market values expressed in sterling, which are subject to exchange rate fluctuations. The aggregate book value of all FCO properties is reassessed annually, and can be found in Volume 2, table 12: Tangible Fixed Assets on page 131 of the FCO's most recent published resource accounts, a copy of which is available on the FCO website:
The book values of individual properties is also shown in the National Asset Register which can be accessed at:
Egypt: Elections
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Egyptian counterpart on the measures the Egyptian Government will take to ensure that the 2011 elections in that country are free, fair and transparent. [296932]
Chris Bryant: Our ambassador in Cairo raised the 2011 elections with the Director of the National Council for Human Rights in October. The elections were also raised with the Egyptian Government in the Political Subcommittee of the EU Association Agreement framework in July.
Our embassy also coordinates a donor group in Cairo, ensuring funding for the holding of free, fair and transparent elections is strategically spent to maximise its effect.
Guinea: Arms Trade
Mr. Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department takes to ensure that military equipment manufactured in the UK and exported to Guinea is used in compliance with the terms of the arms export licences issued by his Department. [296812]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the National and EU Arms Export Licensing Criteria, taking into account the circumstances prevailing at the time. Licences will not be issued where there is a clear risk that the goods might be used for internal repression or if we assess that goods might be diverted from their stated end use.
The UK has not licensed any exports of military equipment to the Government of Guinea since 2000. Following the arms embargo imposed on Guinea by the EU on 27 October 2009, we will not licence any equipment that would be deemed incompatible with our international commitments under the embargo. We are constantly monitoring the situation in Guinea and will continue to take into account any changes in circumstances during our assessment of future applications.
Guinea: Human Rights
Mr. Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department takes to monitor the human rights situation in Guinea. [296814]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The UK strongly condemns the violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrators during the opposition rally of 28 September 2009 in Conakry, which resulted in gross violations of human rights, including deaths, injuries and rapes.
Our ambassador in Guinea is an active member of the International Contact Group on Guinea (ICG-G) and maintains a constant dialogue with EU and G8 partners on the ground to ensure the UK fully monitors the human rights situation in Guinea. Our ambassadors in the West African region are also in contact with President Chambas of the Economic Community of Western African States and the governments of Guinea's neighbours.
The UK strongly supports the decision by the UN Secretary General to establish an International Commission of Inquiry into the events of 28 September 2009 and we will work closely with EU partners to take account of the initial recommendations by UN Assistant Secretary General, Haile Menkerios, following his recent visit to Guinea.
Guinea: Politics and Government
Mr. Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to encourage the development of democratic government in Guinea. [296810]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The UK is actively engaged with EU counterparts in Brussels and New York and through ambassadors in the region to press for a swift transition to democratic rule in Guinea.
Our ambassador in Guinea is a member of the International Contact Group on Guinea (ICG-G) and has maintained a constant dialogue with EU partners on the ground. We fully support efforts by the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union, working with appointed mediator, President Campoare of Burkina Faso, to re-establish dialogue with Guinean political parties and restore constitutional order and the rule of law.
Iran
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps at the United Nations he (a) has taken since July 2009 and (b) plans to take in the next six months on allegations of (i) arming and (ii) funding by Iran of Hamas; and if he will make a statement. [296558]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We take Iran's support, in the form of funding arms and training, to armed militants including Hamas very seriously.
We continue to work with international partners to urge Iran to play a more constructive role in the middle east region. We will continue to press for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions which prohibit Iran from supplying or selling arms or related material.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers and (c) officials in his Department plan to have with governments of Arab states on the statements about Israel made by the President of Iran at the United Nations General Assembly; and if he will make a statement. [296566]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We have regular and ongoing dialogue at an official and political level with Arab states on wide range of regional issues including Iran.
The Government have consistently condemned the Iranian President's inflammatory comments about the State of Israel and his offensive statements about the Holocaust. Such rhetoric is a recipe for instability and only serves to undermine international confidence in Iran's willingness to act as a respectable member of the international community. We will continue to speak out in response to such deplorable and ignorant comments.
Iran: Nuclear Power
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment is of the progress Iran has made toward the acquisition of a nuclear weapon; and if he will make a statement. [296613]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We remain extremely concerned about Iran's nuclear programme.
In August 2009 the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) Director General reported that Iran had not suspended its enrichment activities contrary to the requirements of five UN Security Council Resolutions and still refuses to answer questions about studies with a possible military dimension. Meanwhile Iran continues
to produce low enriched uranium (it now has over 1,500 kg stockpiled according to the IAEA) which could be used to produce high enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon.
The fact that Iran has been covertly developing an enrichment facility near Qom, in breach of UN and IAEA obligations, casts further doubt on its peaceful intentions.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to raise the issue of the Iranian nuclear programme in the UN Security Council; and if he will make a statement. [296621]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: When Ministers from the E3+3 met in New York on 23 September 2009, they made clear that we were all still committed to the dual-track policy, which includes further action at the UN Security Council if necessary. They also agreed that decisions on our next steps would be taken in the light of meetings with Iran. On 1 October 2009 in Geneva, Iran agreed to a further meeting before the end of the month to focus on its nuclear programme. Iran has not yet agreed to a date for this.
Iraq: Iran
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2009, Official Report, column 1961W, on Iraq: human rights, whether British embassy officials in Baghdad have now undertaken a further visit to Camp Ashraf; what assessment he has made of levels of human rights violations at the camp; and if he will make a statement. [296388]
Chris Bryant: We have received reports that Camp Ashraf is calm and that there have been no incidents of further violence since July's events. Officials from our embassy in Baghdad visited Camp Ashraf on 26 September 2009. They confirmed that the Iraqi police and security forces are still maintaining a presence in the camp and are co-operating peacefully with the residents. The 36 residents detained on 28 July 2009 have been returned to the camp.
Our embassy in Baghdad has received a reply from the Iraqi Minister of Human Rights to the ambassador's letter asking for an official review of July's events. The Minister confirmed that a Government committee has been set up to look into the events of 28 July 2009 and that officials from the Ministry visited the camp as well as the 36 detainees. The Minister also confirmed that the Government of Iraq would continue to deal with the residents of the camp with respect for their human rights and according to the International Declaration on Human Rights in co-operation with UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the Red Cross and the Office of Human Rights of the UN.
As the right hon. Member may know, my hon. Friend Ivan Lewis met colleagues on the Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom on 15 October. If he is able to visit Iraq in the near future, he will raise the issues that were discussed on Camp Ashraf with the Iraqi Government at the highest levels.
Israel
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received on (a) an academic boycott and, (b) a general boycott of Israel. [296642]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: I discuss the situation in the Middle East with a wide range of stakeholders including trade unions and non-governmental organisations. As I have made clear to them and publicly, the Government are opposed to boycotts of Israel. This, among other issues, was also discussed in my meeting, on 27 October 2009, with the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon. We both agreed on the need to make progress towards a two-state solution and the detrimental impact that boycotts of Israel would have both on that goal and bilateral ties.
Libya: Arms Trade
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the export of arms to Libya; and if he will make a statement. [295956]
Mr. Ivan Lewis [holding answer 29 October 2009]: All arms exports to Libya are assessed on a case by case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria.
We take into account fully the prevailing circumstances in Libya, particularly in respect of the human rights situation in that country, in making these assessments.
Middle East
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the policy of the Israeli government on the (a) volume and (b) type of goods entering Gaza from (i) Israel and (ii) Egypt; and if he will make a statement. [296624]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Some basic humanitarian assistance has been entering Gaza through the crossings from Israel, but the overall flow of goods into Gaza remains severely limited. Israel has not provided clarity on what types or volumes of goods it will and will not permit to enter Gaza. The flow of goods and materials falls far short of addressing basic human needs of Gaza's estimated 1.5 million people and prevents all but token efforts towards reconstruction. On average, the government of Israel allows the transfer of just 60 per cent. of the industrial fuel required per week to operate Gaza's only power plant at the current maximum capacity of 80 megawatts. The number of trucks carrying humanitarian and commercial goods is routinely restricted to approximately a third of the weekly average before restrictions were tightened. The import of building materials and agricultural inputs is heavily curtailed.
The Rafah crossing from Egypt is primarily a pedestrian crossing and is often closed. Restrictions imposed by the government of Israel also affect goods passing formally from Egypt, which are channelled via Israel through the Kerem Shalom crossing.
Large quantities of a wide variety of items continue to enter Gaza from Egypt via tunnels. Given the illicit nature of the trade, it is hard to quantify the trade. Reports from Gaza suggest that a wide variety of goods which cannot be imported any other way are entering
through the tunnels, and are then available on the open market. Arms are undoubtedly part of this trade. According to a recent UN report, approximately 100,000 litres of diesel and 100,000 litres of petrol are transferred into Gaza via the tunnels each day.
We will continue to urge action to press the Israeli authorities to ease border restrictions into Gaza and allow the passage of essential humanitarian aid and reconstruction material. The Prime Minister stressed this point most recently in his joint letter, on 16 October 2009, with President Sarkozy to Prime Minister Netanyahu.
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