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3 Feb 1997 : Column WA119

Written Answers

Monday, 3rd February 1997.

Atrush Camp, Northern Iraq

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:

With regard to Atrush Camp in Northern Iraq, whether they will ensure that the United Nations High Commission for Refugees arranges alternative accommodation for all bona-fide refugees who do not wish to return to Turkey, together with humane treatment for those who are so willing.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey): UNHCR have made clear that they will assist anyone wishing to return to Turkey from Atrush Camp. They are currently looking at possible solutions for those who choose not to do so, and have said that refugees will not be forced to return. Monitoring the situation inside Turkey for those who do return is part of the UNHCR's standard practice; we expect the Turkish authorities to co-operate with the UNHCR.

Hazrat Ali Mental Asylum

Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they accept the allegations of lying, reported in the Observer of 19th January, against the National Programme Director of UNICEF, Muhammad Reza Husseini, in connection with the involvement of UNICEF's local branch in the operations of the Iranian Hazrat Ali mental asylum and with the quality of the asylum; and what action they can take to investigate the allegations.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: It is for UNICEF to respond to allegations made against their staff in Iran.

Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether Muhammad Reza Husseini secretly discussed with the Iranian newspaper Keyhan Havai a plan to discredit the makers of a film shown on CNN exposing the treatment of children in the Iranian Hazrat Ali mental asylum; and what action might be taken to investigate the alleged threats against Ms Nahid Zare Kamal, the journalist who made the film, that she would be tortured unless she confessed that the film was fabricated.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: We are aware of the programme shown on CNN about the treatment of children in the Hazrat Ali mental asylum. But we have no confirmation of the allegations subsequently made against Muhammad Reza Husseini. We are concerned about the alleged threats against Ms Nahid Zare Kamal, but have no independent means to investigate.

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Former Yugoslavia: Tracing of War Criminals

Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will provide an account of the composition and terms of reference of (a) the "revitalised tracking unit" to trace the whereabouts of alleged war criminals indicated by the tribunal on the former Yugoslavia; (b) the "special police force" to hunt down war criminals reported to have been agreed by the US Defense Secretary, William Perry, and the defence ministers of France, the Netherlands, Norway and Denmark; and (c) the "steering board" which has been asked to consider what further measures could be taken to facilitate the delivery of indictees to the tribunal, and whether they will state in each case by what authority these bodies have been established, how they are to be financed, and to whom they will report.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: The Fugitive Intelligence Support Team is part of the Prosecutor's Office of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. It is staffed by employees of the tribunal. It acts as the contact point with outside law enforcement agencies, co-ordinating evidence on indictees. We will be seconding a police officer to it and are encouraging others to provide secondees and resources.

There has been some discussion of the idea of a special police force but no international agreement.

The Peace Implementation Council Steering Board was established at the London Peace Implementation Conference held in London on 8th-9th December 1995. It normally meets monthly and keeps the Peace Implementation Council informed of developments in the peace process. The board comprises representatives of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom, United States, Turkey (on behalf of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference), the Presidency of the European Union and the European Commission. It is chaired by the High Representative.

Indonesia: Water Cannon

Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:

What information they have received about the use of water cannon supplied by United Kingdom companies against peaceful civilian demonstrations in Indonesia; what representations they have received on the licensing of exports of water cannon to Indonesia; and whether they will now suspend licences already issued, and refrain from granting any further licences, pending further inquiries by independent human rights agencies into the circumstances in which the Indonesian authorities use water cannon, and the development of codes of conduct which effectively prohibit their deployment against peaceful demonstrations.

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Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: We have no evidence that UK-supplied water cannon have been used against peaceful civilian demonstrations in Indonesia, although we have recently received a report, which we are studying, alleging such use in Bandung in June 1996. Following the riots in Jakarta in July we have ensured that the Indonesian authorities are well aware of our concern that this equipment should not be used indiscriminately or to disperse peaceful demonstrations in violation of the universal human rights of freedom of expression, association and assembly.

We have received representations about the export of water cannon to Indonesia from various sources, including Members of Parliament, non-governmental organisations and the general public.

Licence applications for the export of defence equipment to all destinations, including Indonesia, are considered on a case by case basis. We monitor political developments in Indonesia closely, including the human rights situation there. These factors are taken into account before decisions are taken to allow the export of British defence equipment, including water cannon. Not all applications are approved. We do not licence for export any UK defence equipment which we judge likely to be used for internal repression. Any future applications for water cannon would also be considered on an individual basis, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at the time. We have no plans to suspend licences already issued for the export of water cannon to Indonesia.

ODA Grants to NGOs

The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which British non-governmental organisations received assistance during the last financial year from the Overseas Development Administration, and how much each organisation received.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: Grants made by the Overseas Development Administration to United Kingdom Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in 1995-96 for work in developing countries amounted to £163,845,411 as detailed in the attached table. The comparable figure in 1993-94 was £148,610,155 and in 1994-95 £173,124,136--an exceptional year due to the Rwanda crisis.

In addition we made grants amounting to £15,655,907 in 1995-96 to United Kingdom NGOs for work in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The comparable figure in 1993-94 was £9,839,600 and in 1994-95, £11,989,655.

United Kingdom NGOs also draw substantially on European Union aid programmes, to which we contribute.

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The table below provides details of all ODA grants in 1995-96.

1995-96 Direct grants to non governmental organisations for work in developing countries (excluding eastern Europe)

Voluntary organisation(1)	Amount of direct grant awarded in financial year 1995-96(2)
ACORD	1,234,548
Action Disability & Development	237,365
Action Health 2000	45,318
Action in International Medicine	5,000
ActionAid	5,587,350
Active Learning Centre	34,983
Afghan Aid	300,000
Africa Educational Trust	26,673
Africa Now	172,286
Africa Resources Trust	100,000
African Development Fund	3,481,681
African Society for International & Comparative Law	17,592
Afro-Asian Society of Nematology	430
Aga Khan Foundation	1,194,086
AHRTAG	695,956
Alternative for India Development	47,124
AMREF	242,309
Anti Slavery International	6,464
APT Design and Development	325,216
APTT Trust UK	7,298
Arpana Charitable Trust (UK)	34,000
ASLIB	94
Association for Better Land Husbandry	134,298
Associated Country Women of the World	4,356
Association of Commonwealth Universities	2,592,386
BirdLife International	206,066
British Institute of International & Comparative Law	25,000
British Afghanistan Trust	21,515
Britain Nepal Medical Trust	149,869
British Executive Service Overseas	747,731
British Red Cross Society	16,167,110
Busoga Trust	79,275
CAFOD	2,960,965
Calcutta Rescue Fund	2,182
Cambodia Trust	158,454
Canon Collins Educational Trust for South Africa	21,595
Canterbury Christ Church College IPO	146,048
CARE International UK	9,205,344
Catholic Institute for International Relations	2,029,863
Charities Aid Foundation	65
Charities Evaluation Services	6,150
ChildHope	136,932
Christain Aid	7,685,178
Christain Engineers in Development	27,192
Christain Fellowship Trust	7,518
Christain Outreach	461,639
Christains Abroad	61,237
Church Missionary Society	6,630
Co-operation for Development	186,937
CODA International Training	260,735
Code Europe	40,940
Commonwealth TUC	150,299
Commonwealth Human Ecology Council	47,189
Concern Universal	919,162
Concern Worldwide	1,082,164
Conciliation Resources (IWPR)	31,857
Consortium for Street Children	16,100
Cranfield Institute of Technology	34,550
Cranfield Trust	2,694
Cusichaca Project Trust	28,290
Durham-Lesotho Link	19,959
Education for Development	34,315
Education Partners Overseas	50,000
Farm Africa	922,142
Feed the Children	75,279
Feed the Minds	29,831
Find Your Feet	13,273
Food for The Hungry International	62,157
Friends of ASSEFA	30,249
Friends of Conservation	50,451
Fulshaind Village Trust	17,295
GB China Education Trust	21,222
GOAL	141,570
Gordon Barclay Vietnam Fund	2,998
Gurkha Welfare Trust	93,131
Halo Trust	1,551,495
Harvest Help	42,371
Health Aid UK (Rwanda)	84,300
Health Projects Abroad	52,883
Health Unlimited	874,075
HelpAge International	462,746
Henry Doubleday Research Association	17,421
Holy Trinity Church Middlesex	14,100
Homeless International	146,985
IUCN	30
IACR-Rothamsted	74,222
ICEA	3,349
Ideas Aid International UK	30,000
Impact Foundation	10,533
India Development Group	21,816
Institute of Development Studies	2,880,658
Institute of Terrestrial Ecology	3,780
Institute of Data Processing Management	700
Institute for Animal Health	73,868
International Agricultural Training Programme	43,092
International Alert	5,492
International Care and Relief	16,490
International Cent Agroforestry	46,287
International Childcare Trust	67,631
International Children's Trust	58,986
International Extension College	178,508
International Family Health	286,962
International Health Exchange	160,499
International Planned Parenthood Federation	8,800,763
International HIV/AIDS Alliance	200,000
International Records Management Trust	465,731
International Refugee Trust	26,006
International Rescue Corps	1,069
International Trust for Nature Conservation	2,103
Interfund	114,312
Interights	25,000
Intermediate Technology Development	3,705,475
INTRAC	37,981
Islamic Relief	59,602
Joint Mission Hospital Equipment Board	16,422
Karuna Trust	16,300
Kasanka Trust	1,700
Kerala Federation for the Blind	8,350
King Mahendra Trust	58,625
Kurdish Life Aid	307,000
Legal Assistance Trust	90,572
Leonard Cheshire Foundation	47,119
Leprosy Mission	9,832
Leprosy Mission (Scotland)	17,587
League for Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers	2,200
Life Sowing Ministries	217,260
Link Africa	30,495
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine	1,424,078
Manacare Foundation	195,357
Marie Stopes International	2,981,229
Marlborough Brandt Group	15,048
Medecins Sans Frontieres	488,025
Medical Aid for Iraq	392,500
Medical Aid for Iraqi Children	22,500
Medical Aid for Palestinians	81,892
Medical Emergency Relief International	450,000
Medical Research Council	3,175,003
Methodist Church Overseas	16,764
Mines Advisory Group	1,921,789
Motivation	85,589
NACRO	14,800
Nairobi Hospice Charitable Trust	49,072
National Children's Homes	5,913
New Age Access	40,755
New Economics Foundation	3,378
New Hope Rural Community Trust	2,721
Ockenden Venture	311,588
One World Action	208,376
One World Broadcasting Trust	66,005
Opportunity Trust	197,620
Orbis International	33,993
Overseas Development Institute (ODI)	2,078,138
OXFAM	11,581,358
Pattaya Orphanage Trust	29,904
Plan International	886,037
Plunkett Foundation	11,059
Population Concern	721,777
Project Ploughshare	7,309
Red R	29,000
Refugee Council	9,000
Richmond Fellowship International	70,641
RNIB	240
Royal Agricultural Society	6,020
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew	78,023
Ryder Cheshire Mission	100,000
South Africa Advanced Education Project	677
South Africa Townships Health Fund	72,000
SPANA	10,290
Saigon Children's Charity	4,285
Sandy Gall Afghan Appeal	86,048
Save The Children Fund	17,190,175
Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF)	349,918
Scottish Crop Research Institute	69,830
Send A Cow	31,375
Sightsavers	152,333
Silsoe Research Institute	520,431
Skillshare Africa	1,609,499
Small Business Research Trust	2,879
SOS Sahel International	547,604
Southeast Asian Outreach	50,001
Tear Fund	686,293
Thomson Foundation	71,169
Tourism Concern	100
Toybox	15,428
Traidcraft Exchange	168,858
Trax Program Support	30,936
Tropical Agriculture	1,200
Tropical Health and Education Trust	76,947
TUIREG	34,056
UNAIS	929,000
Uganda Aids Action Fund	1,350
Uganda Society for Disabled Children	90,972
UK Committee for UNICEF	1,748,100
UK Foundation for People of the South Pacific	222,175
UKJAID	50,000
University of Warwick	67,172
Urban Aid	25,113
VetAid	297,284
Village Service Trust	15,055
Vision Aid Overseas	3,491
Voluntary Service Overseas	19,596,293
War on Want	92,638
WaterAid	844,922
Wells for India	11,524
Wildlife Information Network	59,668
Womankind	39,133
Workers Educational Association	4,371
World Conservation Monitoring	43,554
World Conservation Union	2,115
World University Service	920,124
World Vision of Britain	3,492,390
Worldwide Fund for Nature	2,179,594
Y-Care International	192,357
YES International	389,702
You and Me	34,250
Youth with A Mission	116,614
Zimbabwe Trust	56,650
Zoological Society of London	69,024
Totals	163,845,411

(1) Organisations registered as a charity with the Charity Commissioners in England or the Inland Revenue in Scotland.

(2) This represents expenditure channelled through NGOs for their own programmes and for development activities and emergency relief work undertaken on behalf of the Overseas Development Administration. It includes some research work where this is implemented by institutions which are within the definition of NGO given above.

3 Feb 1997 : Column WA125

1995-96 direct grants to non governmental organisations for work in Eastern Europe

Voluntary organisation	Amount of direct grant awarded in financial year 1995-96
Active Learning Centre	10,436
Aga Khan Foundation	2,400,000
Balkans Relief	5,000
BEARR Trust	80
Bosnia Family Aid Appeal	3,500
Bosnia Hercegovina Heritage	1,500
British Helsinki Human Rights Group	3,714
British Institute of International and Comparative Law	232,569
British Association Central Eastern Europe	110,565
British Executive Service Overseas	367,351
British Red Cross Society	6,076,800
British Trust for Conservation	2,640
Care International UK	473,790
Charities Advisory Trust	23,500
Charities Aid Foundation	952,279
Charities Evaluation Services	93,451
Children in Crisis	17,600
Conservation Foundation	26,900
Enterprise Europe	20,372
Feed The Children	255,200
Healthprom	5,000
Help Medical	150,000
International Planned Parenthood Federation	50,620
International Waterfowl and Wetland Research Bureau	9,002
Islamic Relief Agency	5,000
Joint Mission Hospital Equipment Board	65,565
Mammal Society	216
Marie Stopes International	118,620
Medical Emergency Relief International	124,158
National Institute Agricultural Botany	245,350
Opportunity Trust	1,018
OXFAM	1,146,631
Plunkett Foundation	315,001
Romanian Orphanage Trust	83,108
RSPB	890
Salvation Army	28,000
Save The Children Fund	862,209
Scottish Agricultural College	452,605
Task Force Albania	38,300
Tear Fund	180,000
Thomson Foundation	248,691
UK Institute for Conservation	40
UKJAID	33,000
University of Warwick	7,225
Vision International	41,000
Voluntary Service Overseas	234,500
Warchild	19,139
World Conservation Monitoring	54,406
Worldwide Fund for Nature	26,750
YLS International	29,468
Young Enterprise	3,148
East European Totals	15,655,907

3 Feb 1997 : Column WA126

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