| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
6 Apr 2010 : Column 1235W—continued
Departmental Publications
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the dates of publication of any regular statistics or reports by his Department have been affected by planning for the forthcoming general election. [323460]
Chris Bryant: On the announcement of a general election, the Cabinet Secretary issues guidance to Departments on their activities during the pre-election period. This will be published on the Cabinet Office website.
Regular statistical releases and reports will continue to be issued and published during the election period on dates which have been pre-announced.
Departmental Theft
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to deter theft from within the Department. [322648]
Chris Bryant: Measures to deter, prevent and detect theft are an essential feature of the Department's protective security controls. These controls reflect the standards set out in the HMG Security Policy Framework (SPF) issued by Cabinet Office and available online at:
It would not be appropriate to provide details of specific controls as this could undermine their effectiveness.
India: Overseas Aid
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to allocate additional funding for work to promote access to justice in Orissa state, India. [325318]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The pilot project to improve access to justice, by increasing awareness of citizens' rights and the capacity of lawyers to effectively pursue cases for victims of the communal violence in 2008 ran until 31 March 2010. We will assess its impact and, together with our EU partners, will continue to monitor the situation in Orissa including any appropriate follow-up action. The EU delegation reported the findings of their visit to Orissa to the EU with recommendations for further areas for follow up including on access to justice. The delegation also raised the issue with appropriate state authorities during their visit to Orissa and with the Indian Government during the EU-India Human Rights Dialogue meeting on 25 March 2010. While acknowledging evidence of progress in some key areas including the setting up of two fast track courts, the EU side also identified areas for future action, on access to justice for victims of the violence, to assist in the reconciliation process.
The pilot project funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to promote access to justice in Orissa ran until 31 March 2010. We will now assess its impact and consider appropriate follow-up action such as additional funding. We will also continue to monitor progress on delivery of access to justice for the victims of violence in Orissa.
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the pilot project funded by his Department to promote access to justice in Orissa state, India. [325319]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The pilot project to improve access to justice, by increasing awareness of citizens' rights and the capacity of lawyers to effectively pursue cases for victims of the communal violence in 2008 ran until 31 March 2010. We will assess its impact and, together with our EU partners, will continue to monitor the situation in Orissa including any appropriate follow-up action. The EU delegation reported the findings of their visit to Orissa to the EU with recommendations for further areas for follow up including on access to justice. The delegation also raised the issue with appropriate state authorities during their visit to Orissa and with the Indian Government during the EU-India Human Rights Dialogue meeting on 25 March 2010. While acknowledging evidence of progress in some key areas including the setting up of two fast track courts, the EU side also identified areas for future action, on access to justice for victims of the violence, to assist in the reconciliation process.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter of 21 January 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton regarding Mr. H. Zadron. [322724]
David Miliband: I replied to my right hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Gorton on 26 March.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 21 January 2010 with regard to Mr H. H. Zadron, transferred from the Home Office. [325126]
David Miliband: I replied to my right hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Gorton on 26 March.
Nepal: Religious Freedom
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to encourage the Government of Nepal to enshrine protections for religious freedom consistent with Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in that country's new constitution. [325341]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We regularly raise with the Government and political parties of Nepal the importance of ensuring that the new constitution is fully in line with Nepal's commitments under international human rights treaties. The Constituent Assembly Committee for Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles has proposed that the new Nepalese constitution should provide that no person
"should convert a person from one religion to another"
which would be in contravention of article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The constitution drafting process remains ongoing. We will continue to raise protections for religious freedom with the Government and political parties of Nepal.
Palestinians: Economic Situation
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of the level of support given by the Government of Israel to the economy in the West Bank; and if he will make a statement. [324396]
Mr. Michael Foster: I have been asked to reply.
Although there are no specific reports on the level of support given by Israel to improve the economy in the West Bank, regular updates provided by the Office of the Quartet Representative and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs give some information.
Israel has relaxed a number of restrictions on access in the last few months, including increased opening hours at certain crossing points, the removal of some earth mounds, and allowing Arab Israelis to visit the
West Bank city of Jenin. The pilot project to keep the Allenby bridge crossing into Jordan open until midnight is expected to continue.
Such moves have complemented the significant levels of donor support to drive growth in the West Bank economy. Despite these improvements, movement and access into and within the West Bank remains seriously restricted, and further easing is essential to help the Palestinian economy grow.
St. Helena: Wrecks
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make an assessment of the effects on the health and safety of residents of St. Helena caused by oil leaks from RFA Darkdale after its sinking in James Bay; and if he will make a statement. [325670]
Chris Bryant: Responsibility for the health and safety of residents of St. Helena rests with the Government of St. Helena who hold the requested information.
Tibet: Politics and Government
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will establish a mechanism to monitor progress in the talks on Tibet between the Government of China and the Dalai Lama. [325815]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We, alongside our EU counterparts, will continue to monitor progress on the dialogue. We urge all sides to maintain dialogue in good faith. This is the only way to achieving lasting stability and prosperity in Tibet.
Western Sahara: Human Rights
Ms Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2010, Official Report, column 116W, on Western Sahara: human rights, what matters relating to human rights were included in Christopher Ross's briefing of the Security Council on 18 February 2010. [325107]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Ambassador Ross's briefing to the UN Security Council of 18 February included some background on a recent exchange of allegations between the parties over human rights.
The issue of whether to include human rights monitoring in the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara mandate was raised by Security Council members during the discussions that followed Ross's briefing.
Ms Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will request HM Ambassador in Rabat to raise with the Moroccan authorities the case of Rachid Sghir, a Saharawi human rights activist. [325113]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: This is the first inquiry we have received about the case of Rachid Sghir. UK based media reporting alleges he was mistreated by the Moroccan police after speaking to the BBC. We have had no further reporting on this case.
Officials at our embassy in Rabat will continue to monitor the human rights situation in the disputed territory of Western Sahara and raise our concerns with the Moroccan authorities through our regular dialogue and in partnership with our EU colleagues.
International Development
Departmental Energy
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) voltage optimisers and (b) equivalent technologies are used within buildings occupied by his Department. [324973]
Mr. Michael Foster: In the last two years the Department for International Development has installed voltage optimisers in both of our UK offices. There are two 1,250 kVa units in our London office (installed March 2008), and a 560 kVa unit in our East Kilbride office (installed March 2009).
Analysis of electricity consumption in the London office indicated an annual 14.2 per cent. reduction in total electricity consumption, which was largely attributable to this equipment. Early analysis shows that there has been a reduction in electricity use in our East Kilbride office, of between 5.2 per cent. and 6.4 per cent.
Departmental Information Officers
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, expressed in current prices. [324797]
Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not hold central records on the cost of individual press officers and this information could not be gathered for the years specified without incurring disproportionate cost.
Departmental Internet
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many complaints his Department received regarding difficulties using its website in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [325194]
Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) has received no such complaints during the last three years.
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on external website design consultants in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [325212]
Mr. Michael Foster: I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 14 December 2009, Official Report, column 806W, on departmental internet.
Developing Countries: Roads
Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on road safety projects in developing countries in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [325024]
Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) is unable to provide this information without incurring disproportionate costs.
Haiti: Earthquakes
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what equipment was used by UK fire and rescue personnel deployed in Haiti after the recent earthquake; and if he will make a statement. [325236]
Mr. Michael Foster: I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 5 March 2010, Official Report, column 1415W on Haiti: Earthquakes.
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development who carried out the four airlifts of relief supplies to Haiti on behalf of his Department following the earthquake in that country; and if he will make a statement. [325268]
Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) followed an emergency tender process with two suppliers before using Air Charter Service to procure aircraft for the airlift of relief supplies to Haiti.
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department has provided to each (a) multi-national and (b) UK non-governmental organisation for the purpose of providing assistance in Haiti. [325269]
Mr. Michael Foster: I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 5 March 2010, Official Report, column 1415W, on Haiti: Earthquakes.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many British firefighters took part in the recent relief efforts in Haiti. [325598]
Mr. Michael Foster: 64 firefighters from the UK fire and rescue service deployed to Haiti to take part in search and rescue efforts, along with two search dogs. They pulled three people alive from the rubble.
India: Politics and Government
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effect of his Department's work in Orissa state, India, on (a) inter-communal relations and (b) the socio-economic status of all religious, caste, tribal and linguistic groups in the area. [325340]
Mr. Michael Foster:
The purpose of DFID's aid to Orissa is to reduce poverty in the state. We have not, therefore, carried out an assessment of the impact of
our programmes on inter-communal relations. However, all our programmes have a clear focus on supporting marginalised groups to gain greater access to development and economic opportunities.
DFID's support to the Government of Orissa aims to improve health and nutritional outcomes, support improved governance and improve the incomes and livelihoods of the poor. We regularly review our programmes to track their impact on Adivasis and Dalits, compared to the general population. Evidence shows that our work is having an impact. For example, the Orissa Tribal Empowerment Programme has benefited more than 50,000 Dalit and Adivasi households: 40 per cent. of these report a 50 per cent. increase in income, and 80 per cent. show an increase in food security and livelihood assets.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |