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5 Jan 2010 : Column 182W—continued
It is not possible to provide information on future reductions in funding because plans for financial year 2010-11 are currently being formulated.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what projects sponsored by his Department in Afghanistan have been wound up or discontinued in each year since 2001; and for which projects sponsored by his Department in Afghanistan a date for winding up or discontinuance has been set. [305472]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Project closure occurs for a number of reasons including: completed delivery; evaluation that further expenditure will not deliver sufficient value-for-money for the project to remain viable; merger with another project; transfer of the project to another donor.
For the financial years 2001-02 to 2005-06 inclusive, the information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Since 2006 the following projects have been closed or have ceased to be funded by the FCO:
Ministry of Counter Narcotics Communications Project
Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs Project Team
Publicity Project
Joint training programme for Afghan/Pakistani journalists
Support for Afghan National Army - patrol vehicles
Strengthening Peace Programme
Train the Trainer demining programme
HALO Trust
Drug Demand Reduction
Counter Narcotics Police of Afghanistan Mobile Detection Teams
Helmand Police Drug Control Use
Newsletters for Mullahs
Campaign to support Reconciliation
Detention Facility Project
Women Affecting Change Action Aid
Afghan Women Council
Afghan Women's Hour.
It is not possible to provide information on future project closures because plans for 2010-11 are currently being formulated.
Andrew Symeou
Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) he, (b) other Ministers at his Department, (c) officials of his Department, (d) officials at the British Embassy in Greece and (e) British Consular staff in Greece have had with the Greek authorities on the detention of Andrew Symeou; and if he will make a statement. [308718]
Chris Bryant: There have been no ministerial discussions with the Greek authorities over this case.
On 25 November 2009, our ambassador to Greece met the newly appointed Greek Minister of Justice and registered our interest in several consular cases involving British nationals, including that of Andrew Symeou.
Our consular staff in Greece have been liaising with the Greek police and prison authorities since Andrew Symeou was extradited and detained in July 2009. Their role is essentially one of welfare and they are not able to become involved in the legal aspects of his case. The Greek authorities are not obliged to provide consular officials with information about the judicial progress of consular cases involving British nationals and in Andrew Symeou's case have not done so.
Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support his Department is providing to Andrew Symeou, detained in Korydallos prison in Athens; what assessment his Department has made of conditions of detention at the prison; and if he will make a statement. [308720]
Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and our embassy in Athens have been providing appropriate consular assistance to Mr. Symeou and his family since his extradition to Greece in July 2009 on manslaughter charges. The consular role when a British national is detained overseas is essentially one of welfare. We actively monitor the well-being of British nationals who are arrested or detained and try to ensure that their treatment is in line with internationally accepted standards and local practices.
The British consul in Greece visited Mr. Symeou in Korydallos prison on 18 December 2009. The assessment from the consular staff was that Mr. Symeou's detention is in line with local standards. The consular section of our embassy in Athens provides a guidance pack for British nationals imprisoned in Greece which explains about the Greek prison system and gives information about general prison conditions. Should consular staff have concerns over the treatment of Mr. Symeou then we would consider raising these with the relevant authorities with Mr. Symeou's permission.
Consular staff will continue to monitor Mr. Symeou's welfare and will provide him with all appropriate assistance while he is in Greece.
Association of South East Asian Nations: Human Rights
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the Government are providing to the new ASEAN inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights. [308004]
Chris Bryant: The UK welcomed the establishment of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission for Human Rights (AICHR) when it was formally launched in October 2009. At this stage member countries are in the process of deciding where the institution will be based and have appointed national Commissioners. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have already met with the representative of the Philippines. Our accredited Ambassador to ASEAN is following developments. The UK, and the EU as a whole, is currently considering the assistance and technical expertise that it could usefully provide to the AICHR as it develops. The UK will continue to engage with civil society with ASEAN countries on human rights issues, and encourage the establishment of formal links between these groups and the AICHR.
Australia: Foreign Relations
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet his Australian counterpart to discuss (a) UK-Australian relations and (b) global issues. [308357]
Chris Bryant: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State speaks to Stephen Smith, his Australian counter part on a regular basis on a full range of issues including climate change, Afghanistan, Fiji and the Commonwealth and UK-Australian relations. The last formal bilateral talks were held in the UK in November 2008. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met Stephen Smith at the time of the UN General Assembly in October 2009 in New York. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State hopes to meet his Australian counterpart at the Afghanistan Conference due to be held in London in January 2010.
British Indian Ocean Territory
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what tsunami-warning systems are in place for the purposes of protecting the British Indian Ocean Territory. [309083]
Chris Bryant: There are no tsunami-warning systems in the British Indian Ocean Territory. However, in the event of a tsunami, military personnel on Diego Garcia would receive warnings from the UK and US.
British Indian Ocean Territory: Environment Protection
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for St Ives of 9 December 2009, Official Report, column 356W, on the British Indian Ocean Territory: environment protection, when he expects the consultation on the establishment of a Marine Protected Area to conclude. [308817]
Chris Bryant: 12 February 2010.
British Overseas Territories
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many offenders held in prisons in (a) in Cayman Islands, (b) Anguilla and (c) the British Virgin Islands are serving time for knife-related offences. [309077]
Chris Bryant: The prison authorities in the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands have advised that there are currently no offenders serving time for knife-related offences. Anguilla has advised that 20 offenders are serving time for knife-related offences. Of this number, 10 have been convicted and 10 are on remand.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many offenders held in prisons in (a) the Cayman Islands, (b) Anguilla and (c) the British Virgin Islands are serving time for drug-related offences. [309078]
Chris Bryant: The prison authorities in the Cayman Islands, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands have advised that there are 49, four and 21 prisoners serving time for drug-related offences in each territory respectively. There are a further 20 offenders in the Cayman Islands and two offenders in the British Virgin Islands on remand.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any Royal visits to the (a) British Overseas Territories and (b) Crown Dependencies are planned to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012. [309081]
Chris Bryant: Planning for the Queen's diamond jubilee celebrations is at an early stage. Royal visits overseas are not announced until a few weeks before a visit takes place.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on the development of an over-arching, long-term template for energy generation in the British Overseas Territories. [309102]
Chris Bryant: Responsibility for energy issues has been devolved to the overseas territories. I have not discussed the development of an over-arching, long-term template for energy generation in the British overseas territories with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. However, where necessary our respective Departments liaise over energy issues relating to the overseas territories.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department holds on the proportion of those children eligible to attend who are enrolled in the education system in (a) Bermuda, (b) Anguilla and (c) the British Virgin Islands. [309104]
Chris Bryant: Responsibility for education in Bermuda, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands rests with the Government of each territory. The Government do not hold this information.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to take steps to enable British Overseas Territories to apply for funding for environmental conservation projects through the Global Environment Facility. [309108]
Chris Bryant: The Government have asked the independent Global Environment Facility to consider funding for environmental projects in the overseas territories, but this has been refused. We therefore assist the overseas territories in seeking funding for environmental projects from other sources.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which British Overseas Territories are members of the Global Island Partnership. [309109]
Chris Bryant: The following British overseas territories are members of the Global Island Partnership:
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Gibraltar
St. Helena
Tristan da Cunha
Ascension.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much high-level radioactive waste is stored in each of the British Overseas Territories. [309111]
Chris Bryant: Responsibility for environmental and energy-related matters rests with the governments of the overseas territories who hold the requested information.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 10 June 2009, Official Report, column 166W, on British Overseas Territories: young offenders, how many of the 2,578 records of persons aged 16 years and under held on the Overseas Territories Regional Crime Intelligence System refer to (a) drug and (b) alcohol-related offences. [309276]
Chris Bryant: Of the 2,578 records held on the Overseas Territories Regional Criminal Intelligence System that relate to young offenders aged 16 and under, 144 are drug related and 28 are alcohol related.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which British Overseas Territories have a National Olympic Committee. [309222]
Chris Bryant: Three British overseas territories have a National Olympic Committee which is recognised by the International Olympic Committee: Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands.
Burma: United Nations
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with UN counterparts on securing a replacement for Mr Ibrahim Gambari as the UN Special Envoy to Burma; and if he will make a statement. [307999]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The replacement of Ibrahim Gambari as UN envoy to Burma is a matter for the UN Secretary General. However, Burma remains high on the Government's agenda and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister regularly speaks with the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki - moon, about the issue. We have underlined our ongoing support for his personal engagement and the role of his good offices mission. We are aware that Mr. Gambari will become head of the UN-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur and we look forward to working closely with whoever is chosen to replace him in this important role.
Caribbean
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department holds on the proportion of waste products (a) disposed of in landfills and (b) recycled in each of the British Caribbean Overseas Territories. [309112]
Chris Bryant: Responsibility for waste disposal and re-cycling in the Caribbean overseas territories rests with the government of each territory. The Government do not hold this information.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department holds on the average energy consumption by household in each British Caribbean Overseas Territory. [309113]
Chris Bryant: Responsibility for energy consumption in the Caribbean overseas territories rests with the government of each territory. The Government do not hold this information.
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