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9 Dec 2009 : Column 354W—continued
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Afghanistan: Armed Conflict
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's estimate is of the population of (a) Britain's area of responsibility in Helmand province and (b) each district in Helmand province. [304353]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We estimate the population of Britain's area of responsibility in Helmand province to be 750,000 to 800,000. According to 2003 Central Statistical Office/UN Population Fund Socio-Economic and Demographic Profile, the estimated population of each district in Helmand are:
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Afghanistan: Politics and Government
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) he and (b) officials in his Department have had discussions with their Afghan counterparts on a national unity Government in Afghanistan. [304720]
Mr. Ivan Lewis:
In the run up to and following Afghanistan's 2009 presidential elections, we met with a range of presidential candidates and continue to encourage all parties to work together for the good of Afghanistan. It is not for the UK to dictate to Afghanistan's political leadership the makeup of any future Government, or
prescribe the degree to which the Afghan Government should formally work with its opposition. What is important is that with UK and international community support, the Afghan Government and other key Afghan partners reach out across the political spectrum in order to deliver progress on the key issues President Karzai outlined in his inauguration speech: security, governance, peace and reintegration, economic development and regional relations.
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Prime Minister's Statement of 30 November 2009, Official Report, columns 831-6, on Afghanistan and Pakistan, what proposals the Government have brought forward on stronger international civilian leadership in Afghanistan; and when he expects such proposals to be agreed with international partners. [304933]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Following President Karzai's inauguration speech on 19 November 2009 and President Obama's statement on 1 December 2009, the international community are reinvigorating their efforts to deliver and co-ordinate coherent and effective support for the Government of Afghanistan and its people. Work is progressing on a number of fronts. NATO Foreign Ministers discussed Afghanistan on 3 and 4 December 2009 and a NATO force generation conference on 7 December 2009 focused on increasing the Allied military effort. It is important that this enhanced International Security Assistance Force military effort is matched by a stronger, more-effective civil effort. We are discussing with our international partners how best to achieve this. The London Conference will offer a timely focus to taking forward international agreement on delivering a more coherent civilian effort.
Afghanistan: Reconstruction
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made a recent estimate of the (a) direct and (b) indirect contribution of his Department and its staff to the economy of Afghanistan. [305469]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The effort in Afghanistan is cross-departmental, with the bulk of the UK's efforts supporting the economy coming from the Department for International Development (DFID). However, one of the greatest needs for the Afghan economy is stability. Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) efforts across Afghanistan and wider region, supporting stability will therefore have the greatest indirect impact on the Afghan economy, although it is not possible to measure this contribution.
There are a number of projects, procurement and salaries in the local economy which have a direct impact on the local economy. Local purchases amounted to £6.8 million in 2008, much of which will have fed directly back to the Afghan economy. Local staff salaries were an additional £549,000. Spending in 2009 is likely to be similar. In addition, the FCO supports numerous programmes which support activity in Afghanistan. This financial year (2009-10) the total budget for non-DFID civilian programmes in Afghanistan is £88.4 million. Of this, it is predicted that £54.1 million is administered with the promotion of economic development and welfare-officially Overseas Development Authority-spend. This does not include DFID spending.
Aminatou Haidar
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with his Moroccan counterpart the deportation of Aminatou Haidar, with particular reference to Article 12(4) of the International Convention on Civil and Human Rights. [304261]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Officials from our embassy in Rabat, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London and the United Kingdom's Mission to the United Nations have discussed the case of Aminatou Haidar with the Moroccan authorities. Article 12(4) of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights has not been raised during these discussions. We have however made it clear that we believe the issue should be resolved swiftly and fairly.
We have also made it clear to the Moroccan authorities that recent events risk impeding the UN-led negotiation process. The UK remains fully committed to this process, and will continue to support the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy, Christopher Ross, in his efforts to bring the parties together to find a mutually acceptable political agreement that provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
British Indian Ocean Territory: Environment Protection
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) historic and (b) other entitlements affect his Department's ability to enforce the proposed new Chagos Archipelago Marine Protected Area. [302472]
Chris Bryant: No decision has yet been taken on whether a Marine Protected Area will be established in the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). A decision will be taken following the public consultation which is at present underway.
The UK is responsible for enforcing protection of the BIOT Fisheries and Conservation Management Zone/Environmental Preservation and Protection Zone and this would also be the case for any proposed Marine Protected Area. Surveillance and monitoring of the fisheries is, at present, carried out by a Senior Fisheries Protection Officer based on board the BIOT Patrol Vessel-the Pacific Marlin, and the Marine Resources Assessment Group's monitoring centre in London.
Departmental Information Officers
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many full-time equivalent press officers (a) are employed by and (b) work for his Department. [303599]
Chris Bryant: The White Book, published by the Central Office of Information (COI) every six months, contains details of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's press team in London.
Ilois: Resettlement
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what research his Department is undertaking on the viability of the proposed return of the Chagos Islanders to the archipelago; and if he will make a statement. [305190]
Chris Bryant: Following the Law Lords judgment of 22 October 2008 in the Judicial Review of the 2004 British Indian Ocean Territory Orders in Council, Government policy remains that no-one has a right of abode in the Territory or the right to enter the Territory unless authorised. The Government have no plans to resettle the Chagos Islanders in the Territory and is not therefore undertaking research on the viability of the return of the Chagos Islanders to the British Indian Ocean Territory.
India: Religious Freedom
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Indian counterpart on measures to enable displaced Christians in Orissa province to return to their homes. [303117]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed this with his Indian counterpart. On 10-11 November 2009 our High Commissioner to India visited Orissa and enquired with the local state authorities, including the Chief Minister, about the status of Christians still affected by the violence in Orissa in 2008, living conditions, compensation and the prosecution of those responsible. The local authorities advised that the state run camps had been closed, affected Christians had now returned to their homes, compensation had been provided and perpetrators had been convicted. However, resettlement of those displaced and the reconstruction of churches was still ongoing.
Israel: Prisoners
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the detention by the Israeli authorities of Mohammed Othman from Jayyous; and whether he has made representations to the Government of Israel on the subject. [304705]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We are concerned by Mr. Othman's treatment and long detention without charge. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister of State, Ivan Lewis, raised UK concerns over Othman's case with the deputy Israeli Foreign Minister, Danny Ayalon on 27 October 2009. Our embassy in Tel Aviv, and our consulate-general in Jerusalem, continue to follow his case closely.
More generally, we continue to monitor the situation with regard to all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons. We are very concerned about cases of administrative detention: we call on the Israeli Government to take immediate action to ensure that all cases are reviewed by a court in accordance with fair procedures, and that detainees' rights are upheld.
Middle East: Armed Conflict
Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Israel's compliance with its obligations under article 23 of the Fourth Geneva Convention in respect of free passage into Gaza of consignments of (a) medical and hospital objects, (b) food and (c) clothing. [304882]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Government have made clear their view that in light of the control that Israel continues to exercise over Gaza, Israel remains bound by obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 in respect of Gaza. Those obligations include article 23 of that convention. We are deeply concerned about the situation in Gaza and continue, bilaterally and with our EU partners, to urge Israel to allow reconstruction and humanitarian supplies into Gaza.
Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the Israeli Government on the payment of compensation to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East following the shelling of its compound in Gaza City in January 2009. [304909]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Government were deeply concerned by reports of incidents involving UN property/personnel during the Gaza conflict. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon set up the UN Board of Inquiry to investigate certain incidents involving UN property/personnel during the Gaza Conflict. The Board reported back on 5 May.
The UN Secretariat are taking this forward-including the issue of compensation-directly with the Israeli Government.
Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government has made to the Israeli Government on the alleged shelling with high explosive and white phosphorus munitions of the United Nations compound in Gaza on 15 January 2009. [304910]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Our embassy in Tel Aviv raised concerns over this incident directly with the Israeli Government on the day it took place.
We have been clear from the beginning of the Gaza conflict that all allegations of breaches of international humanitarian law committed by both sides must be properly investigated.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon set up the UN Board of Inquiry to investigate certain incidents involving UN property/personnel during the Gaza Conflict. The Board reported back on 5 May 2009. The UN Secretariat are now taking this forward with the Israeli Government.
Morocco: Mining
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 6 October 2009, Official Report, column 228W, on Morocco: mining, what recent steps the Government have taken to seek to ensure that Morocco fulfils its obligations under international law to ensure that the extraction and exploitation of phosphates do not adversely affect the interests of the people of Western Sahara. [304262]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer of my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Bill Rammell) of 23 March 2009, Official Report, column 32W.
The UK continues to maintain 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 phosphates-do not adversely affect the interests of the people in Western Sahara.
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Moroccan Government on (a) ending the movement of members of the Moroccan civilian population into the occupied Western Sahara and (b) the application of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention until the status of Western Sahara is determined. [304414]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer of my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Bill Rammell) of 5 May 2009, Official Report, column 47W, Western Sahara: Politics and Government:
We have not discussed the movement of population between Morocco and Western Sahara, or the application of article 49 of the fourth Geneva convention, and have no current plans to discuss either matter with the Moroccan Government.
The Government see the status of Western Sahara as undetermined and continue to believe that progress towards a negotiated solution to the dispute, providing for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, is best achieved under the auspices of the UN. To this end the UK fully supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy, Christopher Ross.
Proliferation: Nuclear Weapons
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to prepare for the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. [304465]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Government have led international efforts to re-energise the consensus underpinning the non-proliferation treaty over the last three years. There are clear indications that the international mood is changing.
Building on the "Road to 2010" policy document launched by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in July 2009, and available at:
The Government will continue to work hard with nuclear weapon states partners and the great mainstream of the non-aligned movement to build critical momentum and ensure a successful review conference next May.
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