New Businesses: Young People
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many delivery partners have received formal offers under the Start-Up Loans scheme to date. [146806]
Michael Fallon: Currently 44 delivery partners have signed offer letters to deliver the Start-Up Loans scheme to date.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills by what date he expects 30,000 loans to be made under the Start-Up Loans scheme. [146807]
Michael Fallon: The Start-Up Loans programme is demand-led, so volume of lending will be dependent on how many young people see entrepreneurialism as a viable opportunity for employment.
Through the Start-Up Loans programme, the Government supports those with that ambition. Currently in its pilot phase, the programme is now consistently funding around 180-200 loans per week. At that rate, and subject to budget, 30,000 loans should be achieved sometime in 2015/16.
We will continue to monitor demand as the programme rolls out fully from April 2013.
Overseas Students
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) India-domiciled, (b) China-domiciled, (c) Arab states-domiciled, (d) Brazil-domiciled and (e) South Africa-domiciled (i) undergraduate and (ii) postgraduate students were studying at English higher education institutions in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [146822]
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Mr Willetts: The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects and publishes data on students at UK higher education institutions (HEIs). Information on the number of enrolments at English HEIs by level of study and domicile for the academic years 2010/11 to 2011/12 is provided in the table.
Information for the academic year 2012/13 will become available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency in January 2014.
| Enrolments by level of study and domicile(1), English higher education institutions, academic years 2010/11 to 2011/12 | ||||
| 2010/11 | 2011/12 | |||
| Domicile | Postgraduate | Undergraduate | Postgraduate | Undergraduate |
|
|
|
|
| |
| (1 )Domicile refers to a student's permanent or home address prior to entry to their course. (2 )China includes the Special Administrative Regions of China; Hong Kong and Macao (3 )Arab States include 22 member states http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/worldwide/arab-states/ Note: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded up or down to the nearest five, so components may not sum to totals. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record. | ||||
Postgraduate Education
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many UK-domiciled first year postgraduates in each subject area were enrolled at English higher education institutions in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [146821]
Mr Willetts: The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects and publishes data on students at UK higher education institutions (HEIs). Information on the number of UK-domiciled postgraduates entering English HEIs by subject area of study for the academic years 2010/11 to 2011/12 is provided in the table.
Information for the academic year 2012/13 will become available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency in January 2014.
| UK-domiciled(1) postgraduate entrants by subject area(2) of study, English higher education institutions, academic years 2010/11 to 2011/12 | ||
| Subject area | 2010/11 | 2011/12 |
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| (1) Domicile refers to a student's permanent or home address prior to entry to their course. (2) Subject information is shown as full person equivalents (FPEs) in the table. FPEs are derived by splitting student instances between the different subjects that make up their course aim. Note: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded up or down to the nearest five, so components may not sum to totals. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record. | ||
Public Sector: Disclosure of Information
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) funding proposals and (b) expressions of interest from (i) Government departments, (ii) Government agencies and (iii) local authorities have been made to the Data Strategy Board Breakthrough Fund to date. [146506]
Matthew Hancock: Details of the number of funding proposals and expressions of interest received for the Data Strategy Board Breakthrough Fund since it was announced on 12 December 2012 are provided in the following table:
| Number of funding proposals received | Number of expressions of interest received | |
|
Local authorities (including the Local Government Association) |
Regional Growth Fund
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many individual awards from Round 2 of the Regional Growth Fund have not yet drawn down funds; and what the monetary value is of each such award. [146803]
Michael Fallon: 133 Round 2 awards for a total of £726.6 million have been finalised. Payments totalling £358 million have been made in support of 79 bids. The remaining 54 awards will be drawn between now and March 2015 when they have achieved the necessary investment and employment payment triggers specified in the offer letter.
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Staff
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many staff his Department employed in each of the past five years; how many such staff were employed in London; how many such staff were employed in other regions of England; how many posts moved from London to these regions; and what steps he is taking to move his staff to regional offices. [145689]
Jo Swinson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) was formed through a machinery of government change that occurred in June 2009. The Department was created by merging the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). Therefore only information from this date can be used.
The following table shows the number of staff employed in London and other regions over the last five years:
| London | Other | Total | |
It is not known how many posts moved from London to other regions. To obtain this information would result in disproportionate costs.
The Department is not considering relocating staff out of central London in the short to medium term. BIS is reducing the number of buildings leased by the Department and its partner organisations across the country and is on course to save £84 million by March 2015. We constantly look at our property portfolio to ensure that all buildings are representing value for money.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Bahamas
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Bahamian Government about reopening the UK visa mission. [146351]
Mark Simmonds: The UK Border Agency has responsibility for issuing UK visas overseas. However I can confirm that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has to date not received any representations from the Bahamian Government about reopening the UK visa mission in the Bahamas.
Bahrain
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Bahraini counterpart on international legal protections against statelessness. [146206]
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Alistair Burt: I discussed developments in Bahrain with the Bahraini Foreign Minister on 18 February 2013, and the Deputy Prime Minister on 20 February 2013.
We have made clear to the Bahraini Government our view that that revocation of citizenship which leaves individuals stateless is a negative step, and ultimately a barrier towards reconciliation.
The UK's position is set out in Section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981 which allows the Secretary of State to deprive a person of citizenship status, if she is satisfied that deprivation is conducive to the public good and where doing so would not leave that person stateless.
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his Bahraini counterpart on the conviction and imprisonment of Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, Ebrahim Sharif and 11 other activists and human rights defenders. [146238]
Alistair Burt: Mr Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, Mr Ebrahim Sharif and 11 other activists have been convicted of charges including taking part in illegal gatherings and inciting violence to overthrow the Government. We have consistently urged the authorities to ensure that any charges against them should be based on strong, credible evidence that will stand up to scrutiny.
In January, I expressed my dismay at the decision of the Bahraini Cassation Court to uphold the sentences of these 13 activists. At the time they were sentenced, reports which were acknowledged by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry suggested that some had been abused in detention, denied access to legal counsel and coerced into confessing.
I have frequently stressed the need for Bahrain to meet all its human rights obligations; and we continue to urge the Government to ensure that civil liberties are protected, particularly where severe penalties are imposed. I spoke to both the Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Bahrain in February, to reiterate the UK's views.
British Overseas Territories
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Government Ministers have visited one or more of the UK Overseas Territories in the life of this Parliament. [146331]
Mark Simmonds: So far in this Parliament, 12 Ministers have visited one or more Overseas Territory, including Ministers from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence, Department for Business Innovation and Skills, the Department for International Development and the Attorney-General's Office.
Burma
Mr Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings officials in his Department have had with Shell where Burma was discussed since May 2010. [146309]
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Mr Swire: According to available records, officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have discussed Burma with representatives from Shell at least five times since May 2010.
Since the suspension of EU sanctions in April 2012, the British Government have made a commitment to promoting responsible trade and investment in support of Burma's democratic reform process. The British Government urge all UK companies entering Burma to abide by international standards of corporate governance and social and environmental responsibility. In particular, this means adhering to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and the UN's Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
Mr Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on how many child soldiers remain in the Burmese army. [146310]
Mr Swire: The British Government note the recent report by Child Soldiers International, published in February 2013, which estimates that there are 5,000 child soldiers in the Burmese army. However, as the report notes, the numbers in border guard forces and in ethnic armed groups are difficult to estimate due to limited access to these groups.
In July 2012, the UN and the Burmese Government announced a joint action plan to eliminate the recruitment and use of child soldiers. The British Government welcomed this plan, but noted that implementation was vital to ensure that the practice of recruiting child soldiers is eradicated. I raised our concerns with Burmese Defence Minister, Lt Gen Wai Lwin, during my visit to Burma on 12 to 15 December 2012. The appointment of a new Defence Attaché to Burma, who was formally accredited on 22 February 2013, will be a further opportunity to press the Burmese military to introduce and adopt measures which prevent recruitment of underage soldiers in the future.
Mr Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on whether there has been a significant increase in confiscation of land from farmers and villagers by the Burmese Government in the last two years; and whether he has made representations on this issue to his Burmese counterpart. [146357]
Mr Swire: We are aware of reports in February of land confiscation in Burma. During his visit to Burma in February, Mr Tomas Ojea Quintana, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Burma, noted the potential for development projects to have a detrimental effect on the human rights of the people of Burma through land confiscation and forced eviction.
Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs nor I have to date raised the specific issue of land confiscation with the Burmese Government. But since the suspension of EU sanctions in April 2012, the British Government have encouraged responsible trade and investment in
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support of Burma's democratic reform process. The British Government have provided funds to support the implementation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, through which civil society and community leaders engaged in decisions over investments in the natural resources and extractives sectors.
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Walsall South (Valerie Vaz) of 31 January 2013, Official Report, column 945W, on Burma, what response has been received from the Government's call for an increase in the level of humanitarian aid to affected communities. [146484]
Mr Duncan: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for International Development.
As of January 2013 nearly $36 million of humanitarian assistance had been provided to the victims of violence in Rakhine, including the UK's contribution of £2 million. The UK continues to call on other donors to increase their contribution.
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Walsall South (Valerie Vaz) of 31 January 2013, Official Report, column 945W, on Burma, what steps he is taking to ensure that the humanitarian assistance being provided by the Government to people displaced in Rakhine State, will not be misused. [146485]
Mr Duncan: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for International Development.
DFID is funding a consortium of international non-governmental organisations to provide humanitarian assistance to people displaced in Rakhine State. Before agreeing funding, the financial management and audit systems of the consortium were fully assessed to safeguard against improper use of funding. The outcome of DFID's funding is regularly monitored by our staff in Burma, including by visits to Rakhine.
Israel
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take to encourage Israel to stop detention of Palestinian prisoners inside Israel. [146297]
Alistair Burt: We have regularly raised our concerns with the Israeli authorities about the treatment of Palestinian detainees, including their detention within Israel in violation of international humanitarian law. These issues have been raised with the Israeli Attorney General, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Military Advocate General.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to take steps against UK directors of G4S over the transfer of Palestinian prisoners to Israeli persons. [146305]
Alistair Burt:
The Government are aware of G4S's activities in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. International law does not impose obligations on
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corporations. For a company to operate in the Israeli settlements or to provide equipment to Israeli prisons is not, per se, contrary to UK law. However, we have made clear to G4S our position on the detention of Palestinian prisoners within Israel prisons and our wider concerns about Israel's treatment of Palestinian detainees to G4S.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Israeli authorities about night-time arrests of children. [146306]
Alistair Burt: We have raised with the Israeli authorities our concerns about the treatment of Palestinian child detainees, including the issue of night-time arrests, on a number of occasions. During his visit to Israel in November 2012, my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General discussed the issue with his Israeli counterpart, Yehuda Weinstein, and other senior interlocutors. Mr Weinstein agreed to further talks between UK and British legal experts on the subject. In addition, Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials discussed this with a senior Israeli legal delegation in London on 31 January.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Israeli authorities about recording of police interviews with children. [146307]
Alistair Burt: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 11 February 2013, Official Report, column 490W.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Israeli authorities that Palestinian children should not be blindfolded or hooded on arrest. [146308]
Alistair Burt: We have raised with the Israeli authorities our concerns about the treatment of Palestinian child detainees, including the issues of hooding and shackling, on a number of occasions. We consider such practices to be wrong. During his visit to Israel in November 2012, my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General discussed our concerns with his Israeli counterpart, Yehuda Weinstein, and other senior interlocutors. Mr Weinstein agreed to further talks between UK and British legal experts on the subject, in addition, Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials discussed these with a senior Israeli legal delegation in London on 31 January.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli authorities about incorrect origin declarations for goods imported under the EU-Israel Agreement. [146446]
Alistair Burt: We have not raised this specific issue with the Israeli authorities. However, we support the EU's work with Israel on the review of the postal code system for Israeli goods.
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More broadly, we continue to work to take forward the commitment made by EU Foreign Ministers at the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 14 May 2012, reaffirmed on 12 December 2012, to fully and effectively implement existing EU legislation and the bilateral arrangements applicable to settlement products. This includes working with the EU to ensure that settlement produce does not enter the EU duty-free under the EU-lsrael Association Agreement, and that settlement products are not incorrectly labelled as Israeli produce, in violation of EU consumer protection regulations.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will take steps to limit the territorial competence of EU trade agreements to Israel's 1967 borders. [146447]
Alistair Burt: The issue of the territorial competence of EU trade agreements with Israel is a subject of active discussion with our EU partners. EU Foreign Ministers, in Conclusions agreed on 10 December 2012, expressed the EU's commitment to ensure that, in line with international law, all agreements between the State of Israel and the EU must unequivocally and explicitly indicate their inapplicability to the territories occupied by Israel in 1967, namely the Golan Heights, the West Bank including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.
EU Foreign Ministers also reiterated their commitment to ensure continued, full and effective implementation of existing EU legislation and bilateral arrangements applicable to settlement products. We continue to work with EU partners to take this forward.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will review arms export licences to Israel. [146458]
Alistair Burt: The Government have no plans to review existing arms export licences to Israel at the present time. The UK maintains a rigorous and transparent arms export control system, whereby all applications are assessed on a case by case basis, against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. This includes assessing the risk of exports being used for internal repression, to provoke or prolong armed conflicts, or aggravate existing tensions or conflict in the country of final destination. We apply these criteria rigorously, including with respect to Israel. We refuse licences for any arms exports to Israel which we assess would be inconsistent with the criteria.
Libya
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the persecution and torture of Christians in Libya and limitations on the possession and sale of Bibles; and what representations he has made to the Libyan Government on this matter. [146720]
Alistair Burt:
The Government are aware of reports concerning the detention of a number of Christians in Libya and has also received representations from non-governmental organisations about the issue. The British
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embassy in Tripoli, along with international partners there, are monitoring developments closely. During my visit to Libya in December, I met the Libyan Justice Minister and personally underlined the importance of respecting human rights, in particular the right to freedom of religion or belief. While we do speak out against violence against Christians in particular, our approach is generally to stress the importance of rule of law and human rights for all. HMG consistently and unreservedly condemns torture and we are determined to combat it wherever and whenever it occurs.
Middle East
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage the opening of the Rafah crossing for humanitarian supplies. [146455]
Alistair Burt: We have repeatedly urged Israel to ease the restrictions on movement of goods and people to and from Gaza, including humanitarian supplies. We support the ongoing talks in Cairo, brokered by Egypt, which provide an important opportunity to resolve the fundamental problems of Gaza, including achieving more open access to and from Gaza for people and goods, and an end to the smuggling of weapons.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government about civilian casualties in Gaza. [146456]
Alistair Burt: The Government have repeatedly called on Israel to observe international humanitarian law and avoid civilian casualties in Gaza, including during the conflict last November.
We have also made clear to Israel our long-standing concerns about the manner in which the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) polices the buffer zone between Israel and Gaza. In the context of recent cases of Palestinian civilians killed by the IDF in both Gaza and the West Bank, officials from our embassy in Tel Aviv have reiterated our concerns over the IDF's use of live ammunition with both the Israeli Ministry of Defence and National Security Council.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of civilian casualties in the recent outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Gaza. [146457]
Alistair Burt: We received regular reports from our missions in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem during the recent Gaza conflict, drawing on local reporting and wide ranging contacts. We understand that 158 Palestinians and six Israelis were killed during the conflict.
Occupied Territories
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made about the construction of a wall around the village of Al Walaja. [146236]
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Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli authorities over the construction of a wall around the village of Al Walaja. [146299]
Alistair Burt: The British Government have repeatedly made clear to the Israeli authorities our position that the separation barrier, if built, should be constructed on the Green Line and that where it is constructed on the Palestinian side of that border, it is illegal under international law.
I visited the village of Al Walaja in January 2011 and saw for myself the effects the construction of the Israeli separation barrier was having on this village. The barrier means that the village will lose direct access to its agricultural lands, as well as obstructing movement and access for communities in the vicinity, affecting their ability to access schooling and health care facilities.
The Department for International Development also provide funding for the Norwegian Refugee Council to provide legal support for the communities affected by the route of the barrier.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take to encourage Israel to end settlement building. [146294]
Alistair Burt: The UK position on Israeli settlements is clear: they are illegal under international law, an obstacle to peace and make a two-state solution, with Jerusalem as a shared capital, harder to achieve. We consistently urge the Israeli authorities to cease all settlement building and to remove illegal outposts, as required under international law and in fulfilment of Israel's obligations under the Roadmap.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage Israel to return Palestinian land to its owners. [146295]
Alistair Burt: We will continue to argue for a just outcome for all Palestinians affected by illegal settlement construction and the confiscation of land due to the separation barrier. We regularly make representations on these issues to the Government of Israel and will continue to do so. The Department for International Development also provides funding to the Norwegian Refugee Council to provide legal support to communities threatened with confiscation.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take to encourage Israel to move the separation barrier back to the Green Line. [146296]
Alistair Burt: The Government continue to make clear to Israel the UK's position that the separation barrier, if built, should only be constructed on the Green Line and that where it is constructed on the Palestinian side of that border, it is illegal under international law.
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Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to persuade Israel to stop the demolition of Palestinian homes. [146298]
Alistair Burt: UK Ministers and officials have repeatedly made clear to the Israeli authorities our serious concern at the increase in demolitions of Palestinian properties in area C of the west bank and in East Jerusalem. We view such demolitions and evictions as causing unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians, as harmful to the peace process and, in all but the most limited circumstances, as contrary to international humanitarian law.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli authorities over the repeated demolitions of the Beit Arabiya house in Anata in the West Bank. [146300]
Alistair Burt: The Government have raised with the Israeli authorities, including the Coordinator for Government Authorities in the Territories, our concern at the repeated demolition of the Beit Arabiya house in the West Bank village of Anata and other similar demolitions.
We consider these demolitions to be contrary to Israel's obligations under international humanitarian law, harmful to the peace process, as well as causing unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take to stop house demolitions in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. [146301]
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take to stop house demolitions in East Jerusalem and the west bank. [146370]
Alistair Burt: We have repeatedly made clear to the Israeli authorities our serious concern at the increase in demolitions of Palestinian properties in area C of the west bank and in East Jerusalem. We view such demolitions and evictions as causing unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians, as harmful to the peace process and, in all but the most limited circumstances, as contrary to international humanitarian law.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Israeli Government on compensation for houses demolished in Gaza. [146302]
Alistair Burt: We have repeatedly emphasised to the Israeli authorities the need to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law with respect to Gaza, including during the recent Gaza conflict in November 2012. We have not specifically discussed the issue of compensation.
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Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of houses demolished in the occupied west bank since 1967. [146303]
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of houses demolished in the occupied west bank since 1967. [146366]
Alistair Burt: According to the Israeli Committee against House Demolitions, approximately 27,000 Palestinian homes and other structures have been demolished since 1967 in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
We have repeatedly made clear to the Israeli authorities our serious concern at demolitions of Palestinian properties in area C of the west bank and in East Jerusalem. We view such demolitions and evictions as causing unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians, as harmful to the peace process and, in all but the most limited circumstances, as contrary to international humanitarian law.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take in response to demolitions in Silwan in East Jerusalem. [146304]
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take in response to demolitions in Silwan in East Jerusalem. [146367]
Alistair Burt: We have raised our concerns about the threatened and actual demolition of Palestinian buildings in Silwan, East Jerusalem, with the Israeli Ministry of Interior, the Israeli ambassador in London and the Municipality of Jerusalem. We are urging Israel to desist from the demolitions and evictions, which we consider to be contrary to Israel's obligations under international humanitarian law; harmful to the peace process; as well as causing unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will commission research on the legality of importing goods produced in Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories to the UK. [146442]
Alistair Burt: We have no plans to commission research on the importing of produce from Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories to the UK.
We continue to work to take forward the commitment made by EU Foreign Ministers at the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 14 May 2012, reaffirmed on 12 December 2012, to fully and effectively implement existing EU legislation and the bilateral arrangements applicable to settlement products. There are, however, no plans to introduce domestic or European legislation to ban the import of settlement products.
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Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the Irish Government's call for an EU-wide ban on imports from Israeli settlements. [146443]
Alistair Burt: The issue of settlement produce is a subject of active discussion with the European Commission and our EU partners. We continue to work to take forward the commitment made by EU Foreign Ministers at the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 14 May 2012 to fully and effectively implement existing EU legislation and the bilateral arrangements applicable to settlement products. This includes working with the EU to ensure that settlement produce does not enter the EU duty-free under the EU-Israel Association Agreement, and that settlement products are not incorrectly labelled as Israeli produce, in violation of EU consumer protection regulations.
There are, however, currently no plans for EU or domestic legislation to ban the import of settlement products.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether UK missions in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem purchase settlement goods. [146444]
Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its posts are obliged to follow UK and EU guidelines when purchasing goods and services from suppliers. These guidelines do not currently differentiate between products emanating from Israel or from the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legal advice he has sought on whether trade with Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories breaches the UK's obligation under international law. [146445]
Alistair Burt: I am not able to comment on legal advice to Ministers.
However, it is the Government's long-standing view that settlements are illegal under international law. We repeatedly call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and regularly raise our profound concerns about Israel's settlement policy. We will continue to press the next Israeli Government to cease all settlement activity.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he gives to tour operators about payments to hotels and bus operators in illegal Israeli settlements. [146449]
Alistair Burt: Our position on Israeli settlements is clear: they are illegal under international law and are undermining the possibility of a two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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We have not been approached for advice by any British company operating tours in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories that include Israeli settlements.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make representations to the European Commission to publish the names of companies mis-stating the origin of goods from illegal Israeli settlements. [146450]
Alistair Burt: We continue to work to take forward the commitment made by EU Foreign Ministers at the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 14 May 2012, reaffirmed on 10 December 2012, to fully and effectively implement existing EU legislation and the bilateral arrangements applicable to settlement products.
This includes working to ensure that settlement produce does not enter the EU duty-free under the EU-Israel Association Agreement, and that settlement products are not incorrectly labelled as Israeli produce, in violation of EU consumer protection regulations. We will continue to work with the EU and European Commission in this regard. However, we do not have plans to make representations on this specific issue at present.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether settlement building by Israel in planning area E1 is compatible with the two-state solution. [146451]
Alistair Burt: We condemned the Israeli Government's recent decision to unfreeze planning in the area known as E1. Settlements are illegal under international law, and this plan in particular has the potential to alter the situation on the ground on a scale that threatens the viability of a two state solution. I formally summoned the Israeli ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 3 December, to make clear the depth of our concerns.
We will continue to make our concerns about settlements, including planning for the E1 area, clear to the Israeli authorities.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the announcement that houses will be built between Jerusalem and Bethlehem in Gilo; [146452]
(2) what assessment he has made of the announcement that houses will be built between Jerusalem and Bethlehem in Givat Hamatos. [146453]
(3) what assessment he has made of the announcement that houses will be built between Jerusalem and Ramallah in Ramat Shlomo. [146454]
Alistair Burt: The UK's position on Israeli settlements is clear: they are illegal under international law, an obstacle to peace and make a two-state solution, with Jerusalem as a shared capital, harder to achieve.
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My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I issued statements in December 2012 condemning approvals for plans to build 1,500 housing units in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Ramat Shlomo, over 3,150 units in Givat Hamatos and 1,242 units in Mordot Gilo South, as well as the decision to upgrade Ariel college to university status, thereby creating the first university in a settlement illegal under international law.
We have called on the Israeli authorities to urgently reverse these decisions and take no further steps aimed at expanding or entrenching settlement activity.
Palestinians
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that UK companies conform to the International Court of Justice's ruling that the UK is under an obligation not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by the construction of the security barrier inside Palestine's borders. [146448]
Alistair Burt: The UK position on the separation barrier is clear: if Israel wished to build the barrier, it should have been built on the 1967 border and where it is constructed on the Palestinian side of that border, it is illegal under international law. The International Court of Justice's ruling, which is an advisory opinion and therefore is not legally binding, concluded that the construction of the separation barrier along its chosen route, and its associated regime, and the settlement breach Israel's obligations under international law. We agree with this conclusion and make our position on the separation barrier known to any companies or individuals who request our advice.
Sudan
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to end violence in Sudan. [146511]
Mark Simmonds: The ongoing conflicts in Sudan continue to cause great suffering to the civilians, particularly in Southern Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur. Supporting efforts to end these conflicts is central to our policy in Sudan, and we are working closely with the African Union, and within the UN Security Council to ensure a united international effort to this end.
In particular, we are urging the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North to enter into political talks without preconditions, with the aim of agreeing an immediate cessation of hostilities, and full, independent humanitarian access to all civilians in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile. In Darfur, we are pressing the Government of Sudan to implement all its
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commitments in the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, signed in 2011, which we see as a basis for reaching a durable, just, comprehensive and inclusive solution to the ongoing conflict. We are urging other armed groups to enter into the peace process.
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We will also continue to encourage the Government of Sudan to start a process of national reform, which takes into account the needs and aspirations of all of the people living within its borders, within an open and democratic framework.