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16 Mar 2010 : Column 788W—continued
Morocco: Orphans
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will undertake an investigation into the treatment of British staff at the Christian orphanage in Fez. [322447]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Our embassy in Morocco continues to seek further information about the treatment of British staff at the Christian orphanage in Morocco and has asked the Moroccan authorities for a full briefing on the matter.
We have provided consular assistance to those British citizens deported from Morocco.
North Korea: Prisoners
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent estimate is of the number of people held in North Korean labour camps. [321644]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to my response of 12 January 2010, Official Report, column 956W which provides the most recent information I have.
Palestinians: Politics and Government
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Gaza. [322400]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The situation in Gaza is very serious, and it has the potential to derail any peace effort, but Hamas cannot be allowed to block peace negotiations. We will continue to work both to improve the situation in Gaza and to move peace talks forward.
We have made available £26.8 million for the relief operation and are pressing Israel to open the crossings more fully to ensure the people of Gaza receive the humanitarian aid and reconstruction materials they need.
We are extremely concerned by reports that Hamas has moved violently against its political opponents and those deemed to be collaborators with Israeli forces. The UK calls for Hamas to halt such acts along with its terrorist attacks against southern Israel.
Repatriation: Finance
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria are used to decide whether a country receives funding from the Returns and Reintegration Fund; what role the (a) Department for International Development and (b) UK Border Agency play in the management of the fund; and if he will make a statement. [322336]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The overall aim of the Returns and Reintegration Fund (RRF) is to increase significantly the number of foreign national prisoners (FNPs) and failed asylum seekers (FASs) who return to their countries of origin and to ensure their effective reintegration into their home communities. Funding is therefore allocated to countries where we can run projects that will bring about an increase in the rate of return of FASs and FNPs.
The Returns and Reintegration Fund is managed by a cross-Government senior official steering group, which is accountable to Ministers. Senior officials from the Department for International Development and UK Border Agency are members of that steering group.
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding (a) his Department, (b) the Department for International Development and (c) the UK Border Agency have provided for the Returns and Reintegration Fund in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10; whether any such funding is classified as development assistance; and if he will make a statement. [322337]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provided £2.5 million to the Returns and Reintegration Fund (RRF) in 2008-09. There will be no further direct financial contribution to the fund from the FCO in 2009-10, but the Department supports the RRF through staffing and support throughout its global network. The Department for International Development provided £5 million to the RRF in 2008-09 and £11.5 million in 2009-10. UK Border Agency provided £4 million to the RRF in 2008-09 and £2.5 million in 2009-10.
Only one RRF project in Jamaica currently to the value of approximately £1.5 million is classified as development assistance. Money transferred to the RRF from the Department for International Development is separate to the Department's Official Development Assistance eligible budget.
South Africa: Football
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with Ministerial colleagues steps to raise levels of awareness of people travelling to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa of HIV/AIDS. [322088]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and our high commission in Pretoria are working with a wide range of stakeholders to provide advice for British fans travelling to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup, including through the Know Before You Go campaign, working with associated partners, and through FCO Travel Advice. Our official World Cup travel safety campaign "Be On the Ball" will reinforce important safety messages, including on HIV and health, regularly in the run up to the World Cup, using a variety of communication methods.
We are already providing advice and tips through the website
which we will be regularly updating in the period leading up to the World Cup. This includes a page dedicated to the issue of HIV and AIDS.
Sri Lanka: Armed Conflict
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with its US counterpart on allegations of war crimes during the military conflict in northern Sri Lanka in 2009; and if he will make a statement. [321846]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office hold regular discussions with US officials on the need for a credible process to address reports of violations of international humanitarian law by both sides during the conflict in Sri Lanka. We believe this could play an important role towards genuine national reconciliation.
Terrorism: Detainees
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Prime Minister's oral answer to the hon. Member for Walsall North (Mr. Winnicle) of 10 March 2010, Official Report, column 294, on what date the Government made representations to the US administration on the use of torture of detainees suspected of involvement in terrorism. [322448]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) 2005 report, "The Handling of Detainees by UK Intelligence Personnel in Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay and Iraq" sets out the actions taken by UK officials and Ministers in response to concerns about the treatment of detainees in US custody. The report shows representations were made to the US authorities from June 2002. Most of the specific incidents described in the Committee's Report were followed up with the US authorities, either in theatre or through intelligence and diplomatic channels, including at ministerial level.
Thailand: Children
Sir Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to seek to secure the accession of Thailand to the Hague Convention on international child abduction; and if he will make a statement. [321920]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Thailand acceded to the 1980 Hague convention on the civil aspects of international child abduction on 14 August 2002. The convention is not however in force between the United Kingdom and Thailand. Before entering into force with a country that accedes to the convention we need to be satisfied that the country has put in place the necessary systems to support its operation. To date we have not received sufficient information in order to be satisfied that Thailand has done so.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in how many instances the Government have opted into a proposed measure presented to the Council of Ministers pursuant to Title V of Part Three of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union within three months of its presentation to the Council in circumstances when the UK has not opted into the proposal beforehand. [318887]
Chris Bryant: To date the Government have opted in to one new proposal pursuant to Title V of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.
Four opt-in decisions have been made since the Lisbon Treaty came into force on 1 December 2009. In the case of the amended Asylum Procedures Directive, the amended
Asylum Qualifications Directive, and the Succession and Wills regulation the Government took the decision not to opt in. In the case of the fourth proposal for a Directive on Interpretation and Translation in Criminal Proceedings, the Government informed the Commission of their decision to opt in on 8 March.
In the case of the interim EU-US SWIFT agreement, the European Parliament voted against the proposal before the UK was required to exercise its opt-in. The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury has written to Parliament explaining these circumstances in more detail.
Western Sahara: Politics and Government
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Algerian counterpart on (a) the decision to close land borders with Morocco since 1994 and (b) the effects of such closure on regional co-operation on (i) security and (ii) counter-terrorism initiatives; and if he will make a statement. [321618]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: I have not had any specific discussion with my Algerian counterpart regarding the 1994 closure of land borders between Algeria and Morocco. However, we do have regular dialogue with the Algerian authorities on regional co-operation, security of the region and counter terrorism activities. These issues were last raised during the UK/Algeria ministerial dialogue meeting held in London on 2 March, which I co-chaired with Abdelkader Messahel, the Algerian Minister Delegate for Maghreb and African Affairs.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on (a) Sahrawi refugees in the Tindouf camps in Algeria and (b) proposals to undertake a census in such camps. [321619]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Officials from our embassy in Rabat recently discussed the situation of refugees in the Tindouf camps with representatives of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in February. British officials also meet with UNHCR representatives as part of their visits programme to the disputed territory of Western Sahara and the refugee camps. There has been no discussion with UNHCR about undertaking a census of the populations in the camps during these meetings.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department holds on the powers the Moroccan government has offered to devolve to Western Sahara in the framework of its autonomy initiative as submitted to the United Nations Secretary General on 11 April 2007. [322339]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has a copy of the proposal Morocco submitted to the UN Secretary-General in April 2007, which was noted in UN Security Council Resolution 1754 (2007) as a serious and credible effort. The UK continues to support the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to Western Sahara, Ambassador Christopher Ross, to build confidence between the parties and find a negotiated political solution that provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department holds on major infrastructure projects which have been undertaken by Morocco in Western Sahara to modernise the region and improve the standard of living of the local population. [322340]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have had briefings from Moroccan officials responsible for development programmes in Western Sahara. These take place in the context of our programme of visits to the disputed territory; the most recent of these visits being December 2009.
Zimbabwe: Politics and Government
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment is of the political situation in Zimbabwe. [322676]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Hard-liners in Zimbabwe continue to obstruct implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA). This month President Mugabe reallocated some ministerial portfolios unilaterally. Human rights abuses and farm seizures continue. The media, electoral and human rights commissions on which the GPA signatories reiterated their agreement in December are not yet operational.
Southern and South African diplomacy in support of reform is ongoing. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear during President Zuma's visit to the UK on 3 to 5 March 2010, we continue to support President Zuma's efforts to broker reforms leading to free and fair elections in Zimbabwe.
Energy and Climate Change
Carbon Emissions
Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what volume of carbon dioxide emissions has been recorded in the UK on an environmental accounts basis in each year since 1990. [320331]
Angela E. Smith: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what volume carbon dioxide emissions has been recorded in the UK on an environmental accounts basis in each year since 1990 (320331).
Estimates of air emissions, including carbon dioxide, are published annually by ONS as part of the Environmental Accounts.
The ONS Environmental Accounts measure greenhouse gas emissions on a UK resident basis, in order to be comparable with National Accounts economic data. Therefore, they include emissions generated by UK residents in the UK and emissions from UK residents' transport and travel activities abroad. They exclude emissions generated by non-residents' transport and travel in the UK.
As such, these data are on a different basis from estimates published by the Department for Energy and Climate Change under the UK's Kyoto Protocol obligations. The Kyoto Protocol
basis covers emissions from UK territory only and excludes emissions from international aviation and shipping.
The most recent publication was on 12 June 2009 and statistics on carbon dioxide emissions for the period 1990-2007 are available on the National Statistics website at the following address:
The table in the annex presents the weight of carbon dioxide emissions created between 1990 and 2007 on a UK Environmental Accounts basis.
| Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions between 1990 and 2007 | |
| Year | Thousands of tonnes |
| Source: AEA Energy and Environment, Office for National Statistics | |
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