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7 Jun 2005 : Column WA49
Written Answers
Tuesday, 7 June 2005.
Sudan: Internally Displaced Persons
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they have made to the government of Sudan or the office of the Wali of Khartoum about the forced relocation of displaced southern families in Khartoum. [HL234]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): We have repeatedly made clear to the government of Sudan that all returns and relocations of internally displaced persons (IDPs) must be entirely voluntary and take place in full consultation with the established international monitoring mechanisms.
This need was highlighted when violence erupted during an attempt to move IDPs from the Soba Aradi camp near Khartoum on 18 May, causing the deaths of three civilians and 14 police officers. On 19 May, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development issued a statement expressing the UK's grave concern. He called on all sides to prevent any further loss of life and urged the government of Sudan to respect the human rights of the IDPs, protect its citizens and bring those responsible to justice. Our Ambassador in Khartoum has also raised the incident with the government of Sudan and pressed them to investigate the incident in consultation with the Joint National Transition Team under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and to take the necessary steps to prevent a recurrence in the future.
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
What development assistance they have given to displaced southern families living in informal settlements in the Khartoum area during 2003 and 2004; in what sectors of development; and through which organisations. [HL235]
Baroness Amos: During 2003 and 2004 DfID contributed £120,000 to fund the NGO Tearfund's primary healthcare programme for displaced people living in camps around Khartoum.
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many displaced people from the south live in Khartoum; and what analysis they have made of the number likely to return home in the next two years, or intending to accept rehabilitation grants under the peace agreement. [HL236]
Baroness Amos: There are up to 2 million displaced people from the south of Sudan living in Khartoum. Following the signature of the Comprehensive Peace
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Agreement on 9 January this year, the United Nations is preparing for around 500,000 people to return to southern Sudan by spring 2006. In total we anticipate that over 50 per cent of the current displaced population around Khartoum will return home in the next two years. There is no information currently available on how many of the returnees intend to claim rehabilitation grants from the Southern Sudan Reconstruction and Development Fund.
Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend to phase out the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme; and, if so, when and over what period of time; and [HL136]
Whether their consideration of the future of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme will be separate from their approach to the employment in agriculture of asylum seekers and illegal workers; and whether they have produced a policy document that defines the differences in their approaches to each category. [HL137]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The Government published their five-year strategy for asylum and immigration on 7 February 2005. This contained a commitment to undertake a review of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS). The review will be undertaken later this year in consultation with key stakeholders in the agricultural sector and will aim to establish whether there is an on-going need for SAWS in light of the use of alternative sources of labour, such as nationals of the new EU accession states. The review will ensure that any approach adopted is consistent with policies on reducing illegal working and on the employment of asylum seekers.
Algeria: Return of Terrorist Suspects
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, before any Algerian citizen who has been detained in the United Kingdom as a terrorist suspect is returned to Algeria, they will require guarantees that such persons will not be tortured; and whether such guarantees will be monitored by an appropriate international authority such as the Special Rapporteur on Torture of the United Nations Human Rights Commission. [HL292]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We will not remove anyone to a country where there is a real risk he or she will be tortured or subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment. Each case is assessed individually, and whether or not assurances should be sought is decided on a case-by-case basis. Where assurances have been obtained they, and any monitoring arrangements, are liable to scrutiny in the course of any appeal against, or other judicial challenge to, the removal decision.
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vCJD: UK Cases
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 26 January 2004 (WA 16–18), whether they will update the table, showing all cases of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) which have been confirmed in the United Kingdom, indicating in each case the date of death, the date of onset of symptoms and the date vCJD was confirmed. [HL227]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): The information, as supplied by the National CJD Surveillance Unit, Edinburgh, is shown in the following table. It provides information on the 107 definite cases of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) where the diagnosis has been pathologically confirmed. There are another 49 probable cases of vCJD, including six who are still alive, where neuropathological confirmation is either absent or pending.
Confirmed cases of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the United Kingdom as at 26 May 2005 (*)
* The information is presented in order of death.
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