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25 Jan 2010 : Column 586W—continued
Departmental Waste
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what volume of waste his Department generated in each of the last three years; what percentage of this was (a) paper, (b) plastic, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) electrical goods and batteries and (f) food waste; and what percentage of his Department's waste was (i) disposed of securely, (ii) disposed of in landfill and (iii) recycled. [311370]
Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office operates in hundreds of locations around the world, many of which have their own local opportunities, facilities and regulations regarding recycling and waste disposal. The information requested is therefore not held centrally and cannot be provided except at disproportionate cost. However, we encourage the sustainable use, re-use and recycling of products.
EU Debate Programme
Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many events have been held under his Department's EU debate programme; when and where they have been held; what the cost of the programme is; what panellists have attended the events; how many members of the public attended each debate; what further events are planned; and which panellists have been invited to attend further events. [312230]
Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not currently have an EU debate programme but I am always happy to debate Europe with the hon. Member.
European External Action Service
Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of officials in the European External Action Service to be seconded from the diplomatic services of EU member states. [312232]
Chris Bryant:
The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is considering this question along with other issues involved in the establishment of the European External Action Service. As part of this consideration, the Council in October 2009 suggested that, when the European External Action Service has
reached its full capacity, staff from member states should represent at least one third of European External Action Service staff, including staff in delegations.
G20: Greater London
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what authority smoking rooms were set up for participants in the G20 summit. [311993]
Chris Bryant: Smoking rooms were not provided. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my noble Friend Lord Darzi of Denham to the noble Lord Stoddart of Swindon on 24 March 2009, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA111.
International Commission on Missing Persons
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the budget is for the UN Committee on Missing Persons in 2009-10; what recent assessment he has made of the progress the Committee has made in respect of its work in Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [312738]
Chris Bryant: I visited the Committee last November and saw for myself the vital work it does in giving closure to the families of the missing persons and in promoting bi-communal cooperation in Cyprus. So far 596 sets of remains have been exhumed and the remains of 196 individuals identified and returned to their families (145 Greek Cypriot/51 Turkish Cypriot). This is an essential humanitarian task. According to the Committee on Missing Persons' website, their budget for 2009 is US $3,014,567.32. The Government fully support the Committee's work, have made direct donations, and donate to the annual budget via the EU.
Source:
International Summit and Conference
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) date, (b) venue and (c) cost of (i) accommodation, (ii) transport and (iii) security was of each international summit and conference hosted by HM Government and attended by the Prime Minister in each year since 2007. [312491]
Chris Bryant [holding answer 21 January 2010]: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Isle of Man: Health Services
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received on the ending of the UK's bilateral health arrangement with the Isle of Man. [310631]
Chris Bryant: None. Reciprocal health agreements are the responsibility of the Department of Health.
Kazakhstan: Foreign Relations
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aims and objectives he has set for UK foreign policy in respect of Kazakhstan. [311409]
Chris Bryant: The UK values its strong, open and growing relationship with Kazakhstan. This covers energy issues, regional and international security and stability, democratisation and human rights, the investment climate and drugs trafficking and terrorism.
Energy security and supplies, together with the resultant commercial opportunities, are especially important. The UK is the third largest investor in Kazakhstan with over US$5 billion invested since independence in 1991. Bilateral trade is worth some US$3.5 billion annually.
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed issues of shared interest with Foreign Minister Saudabayev on 8 January 2010, including Afghanistan and Kazakhstan's priorities for its Chairmanship of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe in 2010.
Mexico: Foreign Relations
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aims and objectives he has set for UK foreign policy in respect of Mexico. [311410]
Chris Bryant: We are working closely with Mexico on climate change ahead of the Conference Of Parties 16 in Mexico; on UN Security Council business during Mexico's two-year term as a non-permanent member; and, on responses to the international financial crisis through G8+5 and G20 mechanisms. We also work hard to strengthen bilateral trade and investment and encourage open markets.
In addition, we pay close attention to human rights and sustainable development issues in Mexico, and support projects locally. We work with Mexico on tackling the drugs trade and organised crime; and on supporting the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
Nigeria
Mr. Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will meet representatives of relevant non-governmental organisations and representatives of the government of Nigeria to discuss child witchcraft stigmatisation and abandonment in that country. [312454]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary currently has no plans to meet representatives of relevant non-governmental organisations and representatives of the Government of Nigeria concerning child witchcraft stigmatisation and abandonment in that country.
However, our high commissioner in Abuja is in contact with the Governor of Akwa Ibom State which has been the focus of that problem. Our high commission has also sponsored a public enlightenment campaign in Akwa Ibom State and the work of a shelter that provides refuge and rehabilitation for victims.
We will continue to raise any human rights concerns we have in Nigeria with the Government of Nigeria, at all levels.
Palestinians: International Assistance
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Government policy is on the legality under international law of the blockade of Gaza; and if he will make a statement. [311402]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: While there is no permanent physical Israeli presence in Gaza, given the significant control that Israel has over Gaza's borders, airspace and territorial waters, we consider Israel to retain obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention as an occupying power. The Fourth Geneva Convention is clear that an occupying power must co-operate in allowing the passage and distribution of relief consignments.
We have made our concerns about Israeli restrictions very clear and will continue to press the Israeli Government to ease them.
South Africa
Mr. Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations his Department has made to the government of South Africa to seek to ensure that street children are not forcefully rounded up and removed from the streets in the lead-up to the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. [312421]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have made no representations to the Government of South Africa on the issue of street children.
Our high commission in Pretoria is supporting the Deloitte Street Child World Cup (SCWC):
which will take place in Durban in March 2010. The SCWC will celebrate the potential of street children and place them centre stage in a new call for their rights to be realised.
Southern Africa: Travel Information
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has recently altered its travel advice in respect of areas close to the Cabinda province of Angola. [313023]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office made one amendment to its Travel Advice for Angola after the attack on the Togo football team on 8 January 2010. This amendment was a factual reference to the attack. The Travel Advice against all but essential travel to the interior of Cabinda province has been in place since June 2004.
Sri Lanka: EU External Trade
Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the EU to make a final decision on existing preferential trade concessions for Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement. [311864]
Mr. Michael Foster: I have been asked to reply.
The EU will make a final decision on the withdrawal of existing preferential trade concessions (GSP+) for Sri Lanka on or before the 15 February 2010.
Turkmenistan: Foreign Relations
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aims and objectives he has set for UK foreign policy in respect of Turkmenistan. [311411]
Chris Bryant: Our priority is to support Turkmenistan in becoming a stable and prosperous partner for the UK and EU. Turkmenistan can play a key role in the development of a Southern Corridor bringing gas from the Caspian region to the EU, and help diversification of supply routes to ensure energy security. To that end, we and our EU partners supported Turkmenistan's initiative for a UN resolution on the secure transit of energy supplies. UK companies are expressing interest in and seeking to develop business links with Turkmenistan.
We remain concerned about the human rights situation in Turkmenistan and will continue to raise these concerns in critical but constructive contacts with the Turkmen Government and via the EU human rights dialogue with Turkmenistan. There have been some improvements but further action is needed. The UK has provided practical support on reform of the penal code and media, and strengthening the rule of law.
Treasury
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr. Cash: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions the then Chancellor of the Exchequer had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the availability of funding for the purchase of military helicopters to be used for future services in Afghanistan in the period between 2002 and 2004; and what response was made to each request by the Secretary of State for Defence for funding to purchase such helicopters in this period. [311276]
Mr. Byrne: The Treasury received no requests for additional funding from the Reserve for the purchase of new helicopters for Afghanistan between 2002 and 2004.
Decisions on priorities for spending within MOD's allocated core budget settlement are a matter for the Secretary of State on the advice of the service chiefs of staff.
Banks: Iceland
Mr. Cash: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government reached a binding agreement with the Government of Iceland on the repayment of that country's debt to the UK prior to the Government's agreement to reimburse UK savers who had deposited funds in Icelandic banks. [311273]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry:
The Government received assurances from the Icelandic Government that it would meet its legal obligations under EEA law and would
repay the UK Government for the money it had paid out to Icesave depositors on behalf of the Icelandic Depositors and Investors Guarantee Fund ("DIGF"). Those reassurances have been repeated many times including in Iceland's letter of intent to IMF.
Last year, UK officials went to Reykjavik to agree the terms of a loan to reimburse the UK Government. On 5 June 2009, the UK Government entered into an agreement with Iceland and the DIGF which would enable the DIGF to refund the compensation paid out on its behalf by way of a loan from the UK. The loan agreement provided for Iceland to guarantee the repayment of the loan by DIGF. The loan agreement was amended in October 2009.
The amended loan agreement has not yet come into force. A number of preconditions must be satisfied before the agreement will come into force, including the enactment by the Icelandic Parliament of a Bill authorising the guarantee given by Iceland under the amended loan agreement.
British Bankers' Association: Finance
Mr. Godsiff: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much each bank in receipt of public funding has spent on funding the British Bankers' Association since public funding was made available to it. [312196]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Government's interests in financial institutions are managed at arm's-length by UK Financial Investments Limited (UKFI). UKFI's Framework Agreement with HMT requires it to manage the investments on a commercial basis and not to intervene in day-to-day management decisions of the investee companies. Operational questions are a matter for the banks' boards.
Cheques
Mr. Touhig: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what discussions he has had with (a) the Payments Council and (b) British banks on the development of a practical alternative to replace cheques following the proposed closure of the cheque clearing system in 2018; [312391]
(2) what estimate he has made of the cost to small businesses of the proposed closure of the cheque clearing system in 2018; [312392]
(3) what steps his Department is planning to take to ensure that (a) vulnerable people and (b) small businesses will not be disadvantaged by the closure of the cheque clearing system in 2018; [312393]
(4) what assessment his Department has made of the effect on (a) elderly and (b) disabled people of the proposed closure of the cheque clearing system in 2018. [312394]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The closure of Cheque and Credit Clearing, the UK system that processes cheques, is a commercial decision for industry. The Payments Council, an independent body that sets the strategy for UK payment systems, will ultimately take this decision. The Government, however, recognise that certain groups still value cheques as an important method of payment.
Before any final decision is made in 2016, and ahead of the closure of the cheque clearing system, the Council has committed to ensuring that adequate alternatives
are in place for all users of cheques, in particular for users who are highly dependent on this method of payment.
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