| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
1 Mar 2010 : Column 845W—continued
Peacekeeping Operations: Human Rights
Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which UN peacekeeping missions (a) do and (b) do not have a mandate to monitor human rights. [318503]
Chris Bryant: The following UN Peacekeeping missions are specifically mandated to monitor human rights:
The African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID)
The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS)
The United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC)
The United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT)
The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH)
The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL)
The United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI)
The United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT)
The following UN Peacekeeping missions are not specifically mandated to monitor human rights:
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)
The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)
The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP)
The United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO)
The United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP)
In Resolution 1244 the UN Security Council mandated the protection and promotion of human rights in Kosovo. While much of this work has now passed from the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to local and other international institutions, the UN Secretary General continues to routinely report on human rights.
Additionally all UN missions provide regular in-country reporting which may include monitoring of human rights. Significant progress has been made in integrating the UN's human rights work: for example all resident co-ordinators of UN country teams must now receive human rights training.
Sri Lanka: Internally Displaced Persons
Mr. Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the proposed creation of a UN expert panel to investigate allegations of abuse of internally displaced persons by the Sri Lankan army. [318583]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We are not aware of any specific proposals for the creation of a UN expert panel to investigate allegations of abuse of internally displaced persons by the Sri Lankan army. We support the EU's call for an independent inquiry into allegations of violations of international law by both sides in the recent conflict in Sri Lanka. This could play an important role towards genuine national reconciliation. We continue to support the work of the UN in this regard, and have urged the Government of Sri Lanka to work constructively with them.
Sweden: Anti-Semitism
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on anti-Semitic hate crimes in Malmö; what recent discussions he has had with the government of Sweden on anti-Semitism in Sweden; and if he will make a statement. [318687]
Chris Bryant: While our embassy in Stockholm monitors the domestic scene in Sweden closely, they have, to date, not seen specific reporting on this issue nor have representations been made to our embassy in Stockholm.
Electoral Commission Committee
Constituency Organisation: Regulation
Mr. Maude: To ask the hon. Member for South-West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission whether the Electoral Commission undertakes impact assessments of its regulatory policies on small constituency associations. [318117]
Mr. Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it is mindful of the likely impact of its regulatory work on all those it regulates, including small parties and constituency associations staffed by volunteers. The Commission further informs me that when it brings forward substantive regulatory policy proposals that have not been considered in a previous impact assessment, it prepares an initial impact assessment and invites comments on this.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what reports he has received of the alleged killing by NATO forces of 10 people including eight schoolchildren in the village in Ghazi Khan, Narang District in the eastern province of Kunar, Afghanistan in late December 2009; [318431]
(2) what discussions he has had with NATO allies on the reported killing by NATO forces of 10 people including eight schoolchildren in the village in Ghazi Khan, Narang District in the eastern province of Kunar, Afghanistan in late December 2009; [318432]
(3) what discussions he has had with representatives of the Government of Afghanistan on the reported killing by NATO forces of 10 people including eight
schoolchildren in the village in Ghazi Khan, Narang District in the eastern province of Kunar, Afghanistan in late December 2009. [318433]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The International Security Assistance Force, of which the UK is an integral part, is deeply saddened by any incident involving civilian deaths. However, this incident occurred outside of the UK Area of Operations and no UK troops were involved. In light of this, and the ongoing investigations into the incident, it is not appropriate for me to comment further.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of his Department's budget has been spent on Afghanistan in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [318696]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The net additional costs incurred on military operations in Afghanistan (Operation Herrick) are met by the Reserve and are in addition to the defence budget. The costs that the Department would have incurred regardless of the operation taking place, such as wages and salaries, are not included. Savings on activities that have not occurred because of the operation-for example training exercises-are taken into account in arriving at the net figures. The costs of operations in Afghanistan over the last 12 months fall into two financial years, as set out in the table:
| £ million | ||
| FY2008-09 | FY2009-10 | |
| Resource Type | Final outturn | Estimate (as per winter supplementary estimates) |
Armed Forces: Training
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of those who completed a course at the Defence Academy in the last five years (a) are serving in the armed services and (b) are working as civilian staff for his Department. [319260]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Colombia: Military Aid
Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 11 January 2010, Official Report, column 742W, on Colombia: military aid, how many UK service personnel are assigned to conducting counter narcotics capacity building activities in Colombia. [317580]
Bill Rammell: I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
Defence: Public Expenditure
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of gross domestic product is spent on defence. [319546]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: An estimated 2.6 per cent. of UK gross domestic product was spent on defence in the financial year 2008-09.
Departmental Complaints
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has a procedure for (a) recording and (b) investigating complaints from members of the public. [319188]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Yes. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has a complaints handling procedure that follows the Parliamentary and Health Services ombudsman best practice guidance.
Details can be found on the MOD website at the following link:
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Help/ModComplaints Procedure.htm
Departmental Correspondence
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has standards of service for responding to correspondence from (a) members of the public and (b) hon. Members. [319187]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) follows the Cabinet Office guidelines for answering correspondence from members of the public and hon. Members. The Cabinet Office target is for ministerial correspondence to be answered within 20 working days. However, the MOD has undertaken to respond to 90 per cent. of letters from MPs and Peers within 15 working days. The MOD also aims to respond to all correspondence from members of the public within 15 working days.
The Cabinet Office publishes on an annual basis, a report on Departments' and agencies' performance on handling ministerial correspondence, and the report for 2009 will be published once figures have been collated.
Departmental Energy
Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department plans to take to participate in the Earth Hour event on 27 March 2010. [319091]
Mr. Kevan Jones: Ministry of Defence establishments will be encouraged to participate in the Earth Hour event on 27 March 2010, subject of course to operational and security considerations.
Departmental Housing
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department received from the sale of housing stock in Scotland in each of the last five years. [319353]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence has received the following receipts from the sale of surplus housing stock in Scotland in each of the last five financial years:
| Financial year | Number of service families accommodation sold | Receipts received for service families accommodation sold (£ million) |
| (1) To date. | ||
Departmental Internet
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many designs for its website his Department has commissioned since 2005. [318654]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the armed forces collectively maintain four corporate websites. There have been the following designs commissioned across the four sites since 2005:
The MOD corporate website was completely redesigned in 2005-06 and re-launched on 1 February 2006. A series of minor design enhancements were made between June 2007 and March 2008:
The Royal Navy website was redesigned in late 2005 and re-launched on 6 February 2006. An additional refresh was carried out in 2007:
The British Army website was redesigned in 2008:
The Royal Air Force internet site was redesigned in financial year 2006-07:
Information on designs commissioned for MOD websites other than the four corporate sites is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Public Consultation
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidelines his Department uses on public consultation; and whether those guidelines are published on his Department's website. [319054]
Mr. Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to following best practice in conducting public consultations, and therefore follows the Government's Code of Practice on Consultation, which first came into effect from 1 April 2004.
The MOD's external website provides a link to the most recent version of the code, which is now displayed on the website of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Met Office
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Met Office Review Group continues to meet. [319152]
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |