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Middle East
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they agree with the French Government's view that there must be an immediate peace settlement in the Middle East, on the grounds that violence there is endemic and will not respond to further security and anti-terrorist measures; and, if not, why not.[HL2986]
Baroness Amos: In common with our EU partners, the Government believe there is a need to establish a political perspective. However, the first step must be to establish an acceptable level of security on the ground. As a first step toward talks, the Palestinian Authority must take serious action to stop the violence, dismantle terrorist networks and bring terrorist suspects to justice. Israel must withdraw its forces from Palestinian-controlled areas, end extrajudicial killings, lift the closures and restrictions, and freeze settlements. Lynne
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have protested against the part destruction by the Israeli Defence Force of the trade union headquarters in Nablus; and with what result.[HL2988]
Baroness Amos: We are greatly concerned by Israeli destruction of Palestinian Authority infrastructure. Such action does not help the Palestinian Authority to dismantle terrorist networks, undermines the authority of President Arafat, and disrupts Palestinian economic, social and humanitarian development. Together with our EU partners, we raised our concerns at the EU General Affairs Council on 28 January about Israeli destruction of infrastructure funded by EU members. We reserved the right to claim reparation in the appropriate fora.
China: British Citizens or Residents
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many cases they know where British citizens or residents were deported from China, because of membership of or association with Falun Gong, since July 1999; whether they are aware of cases where visas to visit China have been refused to British citizens or residents for the same reason; if so, how many; and whether they are making representations to the Chinese Government on these matters.[HL3044]
Baroness Amos: Five British citizens were deported from China on 14 and 15 February this year for "illegally preaching Falun Gong". A Swedish national, resident in the UK, was deported from China after taking part in a Falun Gong demonstration in Tiananmen Square on 20 November 2001.
The issuing of visas to China is a matter for the Chinese authorities. We are not aware of any cases where British citizens, or residents, have been refused a visa to China because of affiliation to Falun Gong.
Our embassy in Beijing has made official representations to the Chinese authorities about lack of consular access to the British citizens who were deported, their alleged mistreatment and confiscation of their belongings. Lynne
Turkey: Human Rights
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What reports they have received from the British Embassy in Ankara concerning the expulsion of inhabitants from villages and hamlets in the Van and Sirnak districts in 2001, and the destruction for the second time of Senlikkoya in October 2000; whether they have information concerning difficulties faced by inhabitants wishing to return to their original villages; and whether they will draw the attention of the Government of Turkey to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (dated 1998). [HL2915]
The Minister for Trade (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): The British Embassy in Ankara reports regularly on human rights issues in Turkey. It has previously reported on village clearances in the regions mentioned by the noble Lord. In the course of its regular monitoring of human rights in Turkey, it receives information from a variety of sources covering a range of issues, including the impact of clearances on the local population.
Gibraltar
Lord Hoyle asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 25 February (WA 201), whether the Two Flags Three Voices formula allows the Chief Minister to have an equal say with
- other partners and a vote on any decisions reached at the talks. [HL2983]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: As I explained in my answer to the noble Lord on 25 February, the Two Flags, Three Voices formula allows the Chief Minister of Gibraltar to participate in the Brussels Process with his own and distinct voice as part of the British delegation. We have made clear that any proposals emerging from the Brussels Process would be implemented only in the event of an affirmative vote by the people of Gibraltar in a referendum.
World Trade Organisation Negotiations
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Which United Kingdom Minister has overall responsiblity for World Trade Organisation negotiations. [HL3107]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The United Kingdom Minister with overall responsibility for World Trade Organisation negotiations is ultimately my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. However, as Minister for Trade, I am responsible for taking forward this work on a day-to-day basis.
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Baroness David asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How in light of devolution they ensure that their obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child are consistently monitored and implemented across the United Kingdom; and[HL2612]
Following devolution, responsibility for ensuring compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child throughout the United Kingdom rests with the United Kingdom Government and not with the devolved administrations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales; and[HL2613]
In response to the concluding observations adopted by the Committee on the Rights of the Child in 1995 following examination of the United Kingdom's initial report under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, they have carried out an up-to-date review of action taken; and, if so, whether they will publish the results.[HL2614]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): The Children and Young People's Unit (CYPU) is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child across the United Kingdom and will be co-ordinating the Government's next report in 2004. CYPU is a cross-departmental unit responsible for ensuring the coherence of the Government's policies for children and young people. In taking forward this
work, CYPU is working closely with the devolved administrations and Whitehall departments to ensure a proper perspective across the United Kingdom. As with other international treaties, while responsibility for the convention as a whole rests with the United Kingdom Government rather than the devolved administrations, responsibility for implementation in respect of devolved matters does rest with the devolved administrations.The Government responded to the Committee on the Rights of the Child's concluding observations of February 1995 when we published the United Kingdom's second report in August 1999. The second report will be considered by the committee later this year. Given the time that has elapsed since the last report was submitted and the important changes that have taken place since then, we intend to publish later this spring a brief update on UK progress since 1999. Huw
Afghanistan: Civilian Casualties
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How they respond to evidence from non-governmental organisations working in Afghanistan that air strikes targeted at the Taliban are also causing civilian casualties, hampering the relief effort and reducing the numbers of people who can be assisted.[HL936]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach): The coalition has ensured throughout operations in Afghanistan that the targeting of legitimate military targets is conducted with the utmost care and with the over-riding requirement that the danger of civilian casualties should be kept to a minimum. We obviously regret any such casualties that may occur. Reports and claims of civilian casualties received by the Ministry of Defence have predominately emanated from the Taliban via a variety of media groups. There have been virtually no reports received from more reliable sources such as non-governmental organisations.
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Question for Written Answer tabled by the Earl of Sandwich on 23 October 2001 (HL936) which is still unanswered, how they respond to further evidence in the Guardian of
12 February of the large number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan during the war.[HL2854]
Lord Bach: The Government have said before that the international coalition operating in Afghanistan makes every effort to avoid civilian casualties, but obviously regrets any that may occur. We should be cautious about believing all newspaper reports, since many were derived from factual errors or Taliban propaganda. As the Guardian article itself says, regarding an academic who is researching casualties, "some of the strikes he records duplicate one another, others are fictional". Huw
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