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30 Jun 2010 : Column 590W—continued
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India: Human Trafficking
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of India on human trafficking. [4918]
Alistair Burt: We have not had any discussions with the Indian Government on the issue of human trafficking. However, through the European Commission, the EU has run three projects during the period 2000-10 on human trafficking in India, focussing on both inter-state trafficking in India and regional trafficking in South Asia.
Iraq
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what projects in Iraq are being funded by his Department; what the budget is of each; and if he will make a statement. [4016]
Alistair Burt: The tri-departmental conflict pool's middle east programme, which is jointly managed by the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development, has an allocation of £6.8 million to support projects in Iraq in the current financial year. The objective of the middle east conflict pool is to support the development of effective and accountable public institutions to protect citizens and deliver services in Iraq. All three Departments deliver projects funded by the conflict pool. Projects to be delivered by the FCO in 2010-11 are:
In addition to conflict pool funded projects, the FCO also has an allocation of £147,555 for 2010-11 to deliver targeted projects aimed at enhancing bilateral relations with Iraq. Previous projects include training for journalists, a human rights public awareness campaign and an electoral awareness project.
Middle East: Weapons of Mass Destruction
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the creation of a Middle East Weapons of Mass Destruction-Free Zone. [4902]
Alistair Burt: The agreement at the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference to hold a regional conference in 2012 on a Middle East Weapons of Mass Destruction-Free Zone was an important step forward. It will allow all states in the region to play a role in the process. We are committed to working constructively with all states in the region to ensure the conference is a success.
Nuclear Disarmament: Treaties
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government is taking to encourage the drawing up of an international treaty to terminate the production of fissile material; and how many staff in his Department are assigned to work on that proposed treaty. [4790]
Alistair Burt: The UK continues to support and push for the immediate start of negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT) in the Conference on Disarmament. We are working with international partners to find a way forward and welcome proposals for the UN Secretary-General to convene a high level meeting in September 2010 in support of the work on the Conference on Disarmament.
My nuclear team works on FMCT, as well as colleagues from the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
Sri Lanka: Human Rights
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to make representations to the Government of Sri Lanka on access to that country by the panel on human rights appointed by the UN. [4920]
Alistair Burt: We welcome the Secretary-General's announcement of a panel of experts to advise on best practices for investigations into the alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.
We welcome the establishment of the Government of Sri Lanka's "Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission". It is important that this process be transparent and credible, and that it has the confidence of the people of Sri Lanka. The UN is well placed to assist the Government of Sri Lanka on such matters. We encourage it to consider drawing on the UN's knowledge to enhance its own domestic process.
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