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Afghanistan: Prisoners of War
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What was the content of the most recent reports they have received from the International Committee of the Red Cross concerning the conditions of prisoners of war now held in Afghanistan and the propects of their early release or trial, if charged with crimes.[HL4983]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos): The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) makes regular visits to detainees in Afghanistan in accordance with international humanitarian law.
We have not received any reports from the ICRC on the conditions of prisoners of war held in Afghanistan.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Baroness Howe of Idlicote asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many asylum seekers or refugees the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has resettled successfully during each of the last 10 years.[HL5285]
Baroness Amos: According to UNHCR figures, between 1992 and 2001 the total number of refugees who were resettled is as follows:
Year Number of refugees resettled
The number of refugees resettled with assistance from UNHCR between 1997 (the earliest comparable data available) and 2001 is as follows:
Baroness Howe of Idlicote asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How much they have contributed to the running costs of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees during each of the last 10 years; and
- whether their contribution was the full amount of their quota in each year.[HL5286]
Baroness Amos: According to UNHCR, the UK Government's contributions since 1992 are as follows:
Year Total UK Government contribution
All figures are in pounds sterling.
Note: The bulk of UNHCR funding is from voluntary contributions; there is no ''UK quota''.
Mr Nader Seyyedi Estahbanati
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will ask the Commonwealth Secretary-General to take up with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the government of Australia the case of Mr Nader Seyyedi Estahbanati, who escaped from Iran but was refoule to Iran on 31 May.[HL5308]
Baroness Amos: We are not familiar with the case, but if the noble Lord writes to me on the subject, the matter will be investigated further.
Iran: Trafficking of People
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they agree with the recent report from the United States State Department that Iran is taking insufficient steps to counter trafficking in human beings.[HL5309]
Baroness Amos: The UK deplores the trafficking of people, wherever it occurs. We are actively engaged, in co-operation with partners, to combat the trade and the criminal organisations that profit from it. We support the rehabilitation of victims and, if appropriate, their return to their countries of origin. UK authorities have insufficient independent evidence to confirm or challenge the American assessment of the cases referred to in the State Department's report. But we and our EU partners take every appropriate opportunity to press the Iranian authorities over our concerns about human rights issues in Iran.
NEPAD and Libya
Lord Shutt of Greetland asked Her Majesty's Government:
What position they take on the possibility of Libya having a seat on the steering committee for the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).[HL5371]
Baroness Amos: At the African Union summit in Durban it was decided to expand the NEPAD Implementation Committee from 15 to 20 members. Reports that Libya will be one of the new members have not been confirmed. While Libya has been a vocal critic of NEPAD, the programme is an African-led initiative and it is for the Africans to decide on the membership of its structures. We support all African efforts to put the NEPAD commitments into practice.
Passports Issued by Dublin Embassy
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many passports they have issued from their Dublin Embassy to applicants with addresses in the Republic of Ireland in every six–month period since 1996.[HL5379]
Baroness Amos: A six–monthly record of statistics for 1996 to 1999 is not available electronically and the specific information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The figures for the financial years for the period in question are as follows:
Since the introduction of digitally produced passports, statistics can be broken down into six–month periods. Details are as follows:
01/01/2000 to 30/06/2000 4,236
01/07/2000 to 31/12/2000 3,038
01/01/2001 to 30/06/2001 4,558
30/06/2001 to 31/12/2001 3,551
01/01/2002 to 30/06/2002 5,132
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many applications for passports from people with addresses in the Republic of Ireland have been turned down by the United Kingdom's Dublin Embassy from 1 January to 30 June 2002; and what were the reasons they were turned down.[HL5380]
Baroness Amos: Twenty passport applications were refused by our embassy in Dublin between 1 January and 30 June 2002.
None of the applicants had any claim to British nationality.
Hong Kong
Lord Grenfell asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they will publish the next report to Parliament on Hong Kong and the Sino-British Joint Declaration.[HL5474]
Baroness Amos: The report in this series, covering the period January–June 2002, was published on 23 July and copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House. A copy of the report is also available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website (www.fco.gov.uk). The report includes a foreword by my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary. I commend the report to the House.
Westminster Foundation for Democracy Annual Report
Baroness Whitaker asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the annual report of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy will be available.[HL5475]
Baroness Amos: Copies of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy's annual report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
The foundation has continued its crucial work in building and developing democracy overseas during the last 12 months. The foundation received a grant in aid of £4.156 million from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and further £390,056 of funds earmarked for specific purposes. In addition, it received funds from the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme and the Department for International Development.
Most of the foundation's activities were in its priority areas of Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and anglophone Africa. The foundation initiated an important technical assistance programme in Sierra Leone, promoting the development of political parties and the principles of peaceful and responsible conduct in political life. The significant contribution that the foundation has made to the development of democracy in the Balkans was strongly endorsed by an independent evaluation of its Bosnia programme.
British Council: Loan of Works of Art
Baroness Hilton of Eggardon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many indemnity undertakings were given by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in respect of loss or damage to works of art loaned to the British Council for exhibitions overases for the 12-month period ended March 2002; and what was the value of contingent liabilities in respect of such undertakings which remained outstanding at that date.[HL5476]
Baroness Amos: The British Council, although not a government department, receives a substantial grant-in-aid from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The council regularly organises or sponsors exhibitions overseas of works of art loaned from national galleries and private collections in the United Kingdom. It provides certain assurances or guarantees in respect of loss or damage while these works are on loan.
In the 12-month period ended 31 March 2002 the British Council provided such assurances to four national lenders and undertakings to 193 private lenders. The value of the contingent liabilities that remained outstanding as at 31 March 2002 in respect of private lenders was £4,358,822. No contingent liabilities remained outstanding at this date in respect of national lenders.
Inverness and Stirling
The Earl of Mar and Kellie asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the two newly created Scottish cities of Inverness and Stirling will be granted a Lord Provost.[HL5079]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: There is no necessary connection between the grant of the title of city and the grant of the title of Lord Provost. Both city status and Lord Provostships are conferred under the Royal Prerogative. Following the recent Golden Jubilee honours, Her Majesty has not expressed any wish to make further grants of such honours.
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