Middle East and North Africa
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to extend the Middle East and North Africa regional component of the National Action Plan beyond the six countries detailed in the February 2012 revision of the National Action Plan; and if he will make a statement. [106050]
Mr Bellingham: Responding in part, to the events of the Arab Spring, the Government published in February and for the first time, a Middle East and North Africa Regional Plan for Women, Peace and Security. Initially the focus of our efforts will be in Egypt, Yemen, Tunisia, Libya, Occupied Palestinian Territories and Iraq building on the successful partnerships and programmes in those countries, funded through the Arab Partnership Fund and through the Department for International Development/Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Ministry of Defence administered Conflict Pool.
However, we do expect that the plan will evolve and that activity will be extended to represent other countries in the region. We will review the plan, consulting with Parliament and civil society stakeholders, in the run up to our annual review of the British Government's National Action Plan this October.
Official Visits
Joseph Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) outgoing official visits by Ministers in his Department to and (b) incoming visits to the UK by Foreign Affairs Ministers from each other country there have been since May 2010. [105469]
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Mr Lidington: As part of HM Government's commitment to transparency each Government Department publishes on a quarterly basis information on Ministers' hospitality, gifts, meetings and overseas travel. Information for Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers can be found at:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/publications-and-documents/transparency-and-data1/hospitality/#Ministers
Ministers from the following countries have made guest of Government visits:
Afghanistan
Angola
Australia
Brazil
Chile
China
Colombia
El Salvador
France
Lebanon
Libya
Malaysia
Malta
Pakistan
Romania
Russia
Serbia
Seychelles
Somalia
Thailand
Turkey
Uruguay
Vietnam
Records are not held centrally of other incoming visits and can therefore not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
Joseph Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) outgoing official visits by UK Ministers to and (b) incoming visits to the UK by Ministers from each other country there have been since May 2010. [105470]
Mr Lidington: As part of HM Government's commitment to transparency each Government Department publishes on a quarterly basis information on Ministers' hospitality, gifts, meetings and overseas travel. Information for Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers can be found at:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/publications-and-documents/transparency-and-data1/hospitality/#Ministers
Ministers from the following countries have made guest of Government visits:
Afghanistan
Angola
Australia
Brazil
Chile
China
Colombia
El Salvador
France
Lebanon
Libya
30 Apr 2012 : Column 1354W
Malaysia
Malta
Pakistan
Romania
Russia
Serbia
Seychelles
Somalia
Thailand
Turkey
Uruguay
Vietnam
Records are not held centrally of other incoming visits and can therefore not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
OPEC
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterparts in OPEC countries on fuel prices in the last six months. [105956]
Mr Bellingham: On 3 April the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), met HRH Prince Salman Bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud, Saudi Defence Secretary. He noted his appreciation of the role Saudi Arabia is playing in calming the oil market.
The Secretary of State has not covered fuel prices in discussions with other counterparts from Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries in the last six months.
On 22 March the Minister of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Lord Howell of Guidford, discussed Saudi Arabia's moderating role with regard to oil prices during the visit of the Saudi Minister of Commerce and Industry.
Palestinians
Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the distribution of water resources in the west bank. [104778]
Alistair Burt: I refer my hon. Friend to the response the Minister of State, my noble Friend, the right hon. Lord Howell of Guildford, gave in the other place on 23 April 2012, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA361.
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Palestinian Authority on the planned execution of Muhammed Abu Shahala. [105455]
Alistair Burt: Our officials at the British consulate general in Jerusalem have raised concerns about this case at a senior level in the Palestinian Authority. They have also discussed the case with the headquarters of the Palestinian Preventive Security Forces in Hebron.
We have been informed that Muhammed Abu Shahala is currently being held by the Preventive Security Forces in Hebron but has so far not been sentenced.
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While the Palestinian Authority statute permits the use of the death penalty, an informal moratorium has been in place since the end of 2009 after Palestinian President Abbas undertook not to ratify any death penalty sentences.
The UK, along with our European partners, regularly raises the issue of the death penalty with the Palestinian Authority. We are following closely the progress of the new penal code, the current draft of which abolishes the death penalty.
Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria his Department is using in analysing the content of Palestinian school textbooks. [106060]
Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not analyse the content of Palestinian school textbooks. However, the UK takes very seriously any reports of textbooks which promote anti-Semitism or any other form of incitement to hatred.
The process for developing and monitoring the content of Palestinian school textbooks is set out in the First Palestinian Curriculum Plan 1998 and implemented by the Palestinian Curriculum Development Centre (PCDC). Under the process set out in the Curriculum Plan, the syllabus of each school grade and subject is evaluated both nationally and internationally. Draft textbooks are then presented to teachers' workshops for evaluation before being scrutinised by panels of academics. Following the initial print runs, further evaluation of each textbook is undertaken by the Assessment and Evaluation Centre. This includes feedback from teachers, content analysis by external experts and structured classroom observations.
In addition to the monitoring process undertaken by the PCDC, a number of studies by respected research institutions have also reviewed textbooks used in Palestinian schools. Most recently, the US State Department has commissioned a full independent investigation into the content of Palestinian and Israeli school textbooks. This is due to report in 2012.
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to raise concerns over the decline of the Christian community in the Palestinian territories with the Palestinian authorities. [106111]
Alistair Burt: Our officials in the Consulate-General in Jerusalem have raised our concerns about the Christian community in the West Bank with the Palestinian Authority Minister of Religious Affairs and discussed the need to maintain good relations between Muslims and Christians.
The Government regularly discuss these issues with religious leaders of all faiths, and with the relevant authorities, including raising specific cases as appropriate and discussing ways of protecting holy sites across the occupied Palestinian territories.
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the Christian community in the West Bank; and what plans he has to make representations to the Palestinian authorities on the protection of religious minorities. [106112]
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Alistair Burt: The Government place a high priority on the right to freedom of religion for all.
The UK is not aware of specific legal restrictions placed upon Christians in Gaza or the West Bank to practise their religion. However, we remain deeply concerned about restrictions on freedom of movement. Palestinian Christian communities are primarily concentrated in Bethlehem, Ramallah and East Jerusalem. Travel by Palestinians between these places remains very difficult due to Israeli restrictions on freedom of movement. Palestinian Christians may also, like Palestinians of other faiths, face other restrictions as a result of the policies of the respective authorities exercising control over the occupied Palestinian Territories.
The Government regularly discuss these issues with religious leaders of all faiths, and with the relevant authorities, including raising specific cases as appropriate and discussing ways of protecting holy sites across the occupied Palestinian Territories.
John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the extent of freedom of religion in the Palestinian Territories. [106263]
Alistair Burt: The UK Government place a high priority on the right to freedom of religion for all.
The UK is not aware of specific legal restrictions placed upon Christians in Gaza or the West Bank to practise their religion. However, we remain deeply concerned about restrictions on freedom of movement. Palestinian Christian communities are primarily concentrated in Bethlehem, Ramallah and East Jerusalem. Travel by Palestinians between these places remains very difficult due to Israeli restrictions on freedom of movement. Palestinian Christians may also, like Palestinians of other faiths, face other restrictions as a result of the policies of the respective authorities exercising control over the occupied Palestinian Territories.
The UK Government regularly discuss these issues with religious leaders of all faiths, and with the relevant authorities, including raising specific cases as appropriate and discussing ways of protecting holy sites across the occupied Palestinian Territories.
John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the Christian community in Bethlehem. [106270]
Alistair Burt: The Government place a high priority on the right to freedom of religion for all.
The UK is not aware of specific legal restrictions placed upon Christians in Gaza or the west bank to practise their religion. However, we remain deeply concerned about restrictions on freedom of movement. Palestinian Christian communities are primarily concentrated in Bethlehem, Ramallah and East Jerusalem. Travel by Palestinians between these places remains very difficult due to Israeli restrictions on freedom of movement. Palestinian Christians may also, like Palestinians of other faiths, face other restrictions as a result of the policies of the respective authorities exercising control over the occupied Palestinian Territories.
30 Apr 2012 : Column 1357W
The Government regularly discuss these issues with religious leaders of all faiths, and with the relevant authorities, including raising specific cases as appropriate and discussing ways of protecting holy sites across the occupied Palestinian Territories.
John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the Christian community in the Gaza strip. [106271]
Alistair Burt: The Government place a high priority on the right to freedom of religion for all.
The UK is not aware of specific legal restrictions placed upon Christians in Gaza or the west bank to practise their religion. However, we remain deeply concerned about restrictions on freedom of movement. Palestinian Christian communities are primarily concentrated in Bethlehem, Ramallah and East Jerusalem. Travel by Palestinians between these places remains very difficult due to Israeli restrictions on freedom of movement. Palestinian Christians may also, like Palestinians of other faiths, face other restrictions as a result of the policies of the respective authorities exercising control over the occupied Palestinian Territories.
The Government regularly discuss these issues with religious leaders of all faiths, and with the relevant authorities, including raising specific cases as appropriate and discussing ways of protecting holy sites across the occupied Palestinian Territories.
Retirement
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff of his Department retired in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; how many such staff were taking early retirement in each such year; and if he will make a statement. [104563]
Mr Bellingham: According to our records in the period 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011 there were 140 retirees of which 86 were early.
In the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012 there were 69 retirees of which 29 were early.
The retirement figures are for all members of staff who left during this period, were aged 50 plus and had immediate access to their pension.
The early retirement figures are for those members of staff who left under an early exit scheme and had immediate access to their pension.
Russia
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the conduct of recent presidential elections in the Russian Federation. [102863]
Mr Lidington: The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights noted some positive elements of the electoral process, but also identified problems with unequal campaign conditions and limitations on voter choice. We have called upon the Russian Government to fully investigate all allegations of electoral violations.
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of press freedom in Russia. [105095]
30 Apr 2012 : Column 1358W
Mr Lidington: Press freedom in Russia remains limited. There have been examples of journalists being subject to threats and violence, with those reporting on or working in the North Caucasus region particularly at risk. We remain deeply concerned that the perpetrators of such crimes are often not brought to justice.
There are few restrictions on the internet in Russia and internet use is increasing. There are, however, issues of concern; on the day of the Duma elections in December the websites of several non-governmental organisations and independent news outlets were disabled by cyber attacks.
We fund a number of projects that support media freedom in Russia, as part of efforts to contribute to greater openness and democracy.
Saudi Arabia
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on comments on churches in the Arab peninsular made by the current Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin on 12 March 2012; what discussions he has had on the comments with his Saudi Arabian counterpart; and if he will make a statement. [106256]
Alistair Burt: The view expressed by the Grand Mufti, about the destruction of churches in the region, represents a long-standing Saudi Arabian religious position based on a saying attributed to the Prophet that
“there can be no two religions in the Arabian Peninsula”.
The UK is concerned by these comments and finds them unacceptable. The British Government strongly support the right to freedom of religion or belief but maintain that an open and constructive relationship remains the best way to engage Saudi Arabia on this issue.
We welcome that Prince Saud, the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister, made clear to EU ambassadors on 10 April that the Grand Mufti’s recent statement did not represent the Saudi Arabian Government’s position.
We support the right to freedom of religion or belief. We make our views known through the UN Universal Periodic Review Process, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Annual Human Rights Report and directly with Saudi human rights organisations and the Saudi Arabian Government. The UK will continue to press for greater, more open religious freedom.
Sick Leave
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many sick days were taken by staff in his Department in each of the last three years. [105813]
Mr Bellingham: The number of sick days taken by Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) UK based staff in each of the last three years is:
| Days | |
30 Apr 2012 : Column 1359W
These figures include both certified and uncertified absences and are based on the calendar year not financial year.
The 2009 figures include absences for FCO Services (FCOS). This figure cannot be broken down easily and to do so would incur disproportionate costs. The 2010 and 2011 figures exclude FCO Services.
South Sudan
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the situation in South Sudan; and if he will make a statement. [105841]
Mr Bellingham: I am concerned by the situation in South Sudan. The continued conflict with Sudan, inter-communal violence within South Sudan and the shutting down of South Sudan’s oil wells severely diminish South Sudan’s prospects of building a secure and prosperous new nation and add to the humanitarian needs of its people. We urge the Governments of both South Sudan and Sudan to settle all their remaining disputes at the negotiating table, under the auspices of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel, rather than through military action. I welcome the roadmap for implementing a ceasefire and returning to negotiation which was set out by the Peace and Security Council of the African Union on 24 April. We will continue to make representations on its implementation to both Governments.
Sri Lanka
Dame Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2011, Official Report, column 684W, on Sri Lanka: armed conflict, whether he has received any further reports on the activities of Major General De Silva as Commander of the 55th Army Division during the final stages of Sri Lanka's civil war; and what representations he has received from non-governmental organisations. [105462]
Alistair Burt: In January 2012, we received representations from four non-governmental organisations and have advised them that any credible evidence of war crimes should be passed to the Metropolitan police. We understand that they have done so.
Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role the Migration Delivery Officer at the British High Commission in Colombo has played in investigating claims that Tamils forcibly removed to Sri Lanka have suffered ill-treatment on return. [106225]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Migration Delivery Officer (MDO) in Colombo is responsible for investigating any claims of ill-treatment of those forcibly returned to Sri Lanka. To date no allegation of mistreatment has been substantiated following these investigations.
St Helena
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) he, (b) his officials and (c) his special advisers have had meetings with Lord Ashcroft to discuss the construction of an airport on St Helena. [104645]
30 Apr 2012 : Column 1360W
Mr Bellingham: No such meetings have taken place.
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Prime Minister on the construction of an airport on St Helena. [104647]
Mr Bellingham: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), regularly discusses many foreign policy issues with the Prime Minister. The content of those discussions is confidential.
Sudan and South Sudan
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to update advice offered to UK nationals in or intending to visit Sudan and South Sudan. [106019]
Mr Bellingham: Our travel advice on Sudan and South Sudan is reviewed and updated regularly. We advise against travel to areas that are affected by the recent increase in border tensions, to areas of internal conflict in the two countries and highlight other security concerns. The up to date advice can be accessed on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website.
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has discussed the military situation in Sudan and South Sudan with representatives of the Chinese Government. [105143]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Secretary of State for International Development, the right hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), discussed Sudan and South Sudan during a meeting with China's Special Envoy for Africa in February. The Under-Secretary of State for International Development, the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr O'Brien), met the Chinese ambassador to Sudan earlier this year to discuss greater UK-China co-operation. We have regular contact at official level through UK Special Representatives, as well as through our missions in Beijing, Khartoum, Juba and New York.
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the conflicts between Sudan and South Sudan. [106119]
Mr Bellingham:
As I made clear in my recent statements of 11, 20 and 24 April, we condemn all cross border actions by Sudan and South Sudan. Both sides must establish a ceasefire in line with the agreement on non-aggression that they signed in February, honour their commitment to establish the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mission without further delay, and cease all support to armed groups in the territory of the other state. I welcome the roadmap and timetable for implementing a ceasefire and returning to negotiations which was set out by the Peace and Security Council of the African Union on 24 April. We will continue to make representations on its implementation
30 Apr 2012 : Column 1361W
to both Governments and militaries, and to provide political and practical support to the African Union's mediation efforts.
Syria
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens have requested consular support in Syria in each of the last three months. [106255]
Alistair Burt: In the last three months, there have been three British nationals who have requested consular assistance in Syria; three in February, 0 in March and 0 in April. On 1 March 2012, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), announced his decision to suspend all services of the British embassy in Damascus with immediate effect. We advise against all travel to the Syrian Arab Republic, and that British nationals in Syria should leave now by commercial means while these are still available. Those who choose to remain in Syria or to visit against our advice should be aware that we cannot provide consular assistance or services in Syria. However, the UK has appointed Hungary to act as its Protecting Power in Syria. The Hungarian embassy in Damascus can provide emergency assistance to British nationals.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the level of civil unrest in Syria; and if he will make a statement. [106257]
Alistair Burt: As I said in a statement on 27 April we remain deeply concerned by the reprehensible violence we continue to see perpetrated by the Assad regime in Syria, despite the ceasefire.
The Joint UN/Arab League Special Envoy for Syria, Kofi Annan, said in a briefing to the UN Security Council on 24 April that Syria is still witnessing unacceptable levels of violence. The UN Secretary-General has also condemned the continued repression against the Syrian civilian population and violence from any quarter.
The regime must urgently implement in full Annan's six point plan, including a political transition. We continue to urge the opposition to adhere to the ceasefire and also to work with Joint UN/Arab League Envoy Kofi Annan on a political transition.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his (a) Iranian and (b) Turkish counterpart on the current civil unrest in Syria. [106258]
Alistair Burt:
We hold regular discussions at all levels with our Turkish counterparts on the unrest in Syria.
30 Apr 2012 : Column 1362W
We also work closely with the Turkish Government in international fora as we search to resolve the current crisis.
We have had no recent discussions with the Iranian Government at any level on Syria. We are deeply concerned by credible information that Iran is providing equipment and technical advice to help the Syrian regime quash protests in Syria. Such support is unacceptable. As elsewhere in the region, protestors in Syria must be allowed to express their legitimate aspirations and peacefully call for change without fear of brutal repression.
Thailand
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the freedom of journalists in Thailand. [105094]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Human rights are at the heart of the UK's foreign policy. As such our embassies make regular assessments of the human rights situation in their host countries, including freedom of expression which remains a priority for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The media in Thailand is by and large free of interference and it reflects all sides of the political spectrum. There remains an issue with self-censorship. Journalists tend not to report on certain issues for fear of getting either themselves or their organisations into trouble, particularly on sensitive topics including the Monarchy. In the Reporters without Borders “press freedom index 2011” Thailand has risen from being ranked 153 to 137, which although a rise in standing still illustrates a restriction to free reporting. Human rights groups also continue to raise concerns about the use of the 2007 Computer Crimes Act to interfere with the internet on grounds of national security, which has been deemed to include criticism of the monarchy. Out ambassador in Bangkok has raised the issue of freedom of expression a number of times with the Thai authorities.
Turkey
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of Turkish citizens employed in the EU who will seek resident rights in the UK in the latest period for which figures are available. [104746]
Damian Green: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Home Department.
No such estimate has been made. Statistics in respect of grants of entry and residence to Turkish nationals do not distinguish between those arriving directly from Turkey and those previously working in another member state of the European Union.