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Iraq: Cultural Reconstruction
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in accordance with the undertaking they gave shortly after the invasion of Iraq to help with the cultural reconstruction of Iraq, they will now offer to develop a joint plan of co-operation training and investment with the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage; and, if so, whether they will invite other European Union member states to support this programme during the United Kingdom's presidency of the European Union. [HL385]
Lord Triesman: The Government take very seriously the need to respect Iraq's cultural heritage. As United Nations Security Council resolution 1546 (June 2004) stressed, all parties need to respect and protect Iraq's archaeological, historical, cultural, and religious heritage. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials are in regular contact with the Iraqi Ministry of Culture. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, (Tessa Jowell), spoke to the former Iraqi Minister of Culture on 26 January and is kept closely informed of key cultural issues in Iraq.
In early 2005 the Government funded a capacity-building visit to the UK by three Iraqi interns from Babylon. They received training on site management techniques and museology and were based at the British Museum. The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport will give careful consideration to any further proposals designed to help the cultural reconstruction of Iraq.
22 Jun 2005 : Column WA193
European Court of Human Rights: Mr Ocalan
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have been informed about the conditions of imprisonment of Mr Abdullah Ocalan in Turkey; and whether they will ask the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture to re-examine his prison conditions and report on their impact on his physical and mental health. [HL466]
Lord Triesman: On 12 June the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that in the case of Ocalan v Turkey the general conditions in which the applicant was being detained at Imrali Prison did not constitute inhuman or degrading treatment within the meaning of Article 3 of the ECHR, and consequently there was no violation of Article 3. The Council of Europe's Commission for Prevention of Torture (CPT) visited Ocalan on Imrali in February 2003 to assess his prison conditions and their report was published along with the Turkish Government's response in February 2004. We have discussed the CPT report and Turkey's response with the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Embassy staff discuss Mr Ocalan's situation with his lawyers as developments arise. We do not intend to ask the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture to re-examine his prison conditions and report at this time.
Sudan: Darfur
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans are being developed to repatriate the displaced people of Darfur to their homes and to provide the necessary security for them to live in safety and without fear of molestation. [HL613]
Lord Triesman: We have made clear to the government of Sudan (GoS) that all returns must be voluntary, and carried out in full accordance with the established international mechanisms.
Improving the security situation is key if those who have been displaced are to return to their homes. We are pressing the GoS to ensure the safety of their civilians and to improve the security situation in Darfur, but the African Union (AU) mission also has a key role to play.
We welcome the planned expansion of the AU mission to over 7,700 personnel and have allocated £19 million in support of this. Where AU troops are deployed, they have helped to create the necessary conditions for some internally displaced persons returns. For example, in Labado and Khor Abeche the AU presence has, according to the UN, enabled 15,000 and 4,500 people respectively to return to their homes. The additional troops will enable the AU to provide greater geographical coverage in Darfur, and a more permanent presence in areas where it is already deployed.
Crossrail: Funding
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the currently committed funding for the Crossrail project; and what is the estimated funding requirement for completion of the Crossrail Bill. [HL482]
Lord Davies of Oldham: £154 million was allocated to the Crossrail project in 2001. In April 2005, £48 million of this initial funding remained. We are currently considering with Transport for London the extent to which the project requires additional funding during the passage of the Crossrail Bill.
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