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Written Answers
Monday, 9 February 2004.
Civil Servants
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When a member of the House of Lords requests a civil servant to forward his or her views to a Minister, whether there is an obligation on the civil servant to undertake such a task.[HL682]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): No. There is no such specific obligation on civil servants. However, civil servants are aware of the importance of briefing Ministers fully, taking into account the advice that they are offered.
Northern Ireland: Crime Reduction Targets
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Why in the Northern Ireland Office autumn performance report 2003, they have set modest targets for reducing burglary, vehicle thefts and theft from vehicles, but none for diminishing murders, bombings (including petrol bombings) or paramilitary shootings and assaults.[HL755]
Baroness Amos: The Government in agreement with HM Treasury did not set specific targets in SR2002 for reducing murders, bombings and paramilitary attacks. However, systems are in place for the monitoring of major security incidents, breaches of public order and serious violence against the person. The Government want to see a complete and permanent end to all forms of paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland and will continue to work hard towards this goal.
Romania: Care Centres
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What was the result of the recent visits by representatives of the Department for International Development to foster care centres in Romania; and whether the visits also included orphanages.[HL1104]
Baroness Amos: There have been no recent visits by officials of the Department for International Development (DfID) to childcare centres and orphanages in Romania. However, DfID is providing technical assistance to the Romanian National Authority for Child Protection and Adoption (NACPA) to improve the standards of care for abandoned and homeless children placed in institutions.
DfID-funded consultants advising the NACPA have supported the development of an inspection, monitoring and evaluation system for childcare services in Romania. These consultants have visited
childcare centres and orphanages with the NACPA in order to support a series of pilot inspections. This will contribute to a national programme for inspection, monitoring and evaluation being developed by the Government of Romania with the support of other donor agencies.Pakistan: Visas
Lord Ahmed asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the immigration and visa section at the British High Commission in Islamabad is now providing a full service.[HL954]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): As a result of the security situation in Pakistan there were three partial evacuations of staff at the High Commission in Islamabad between October 2001 and May 2002. The visa section has operated a restricted visa service since June 2002.
We are working towards restoring the full visa service in Pakistan this spring.
Lord Ahmed asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many appeals against refused visa applications were received in all categories in 2003 from Pakistan; and how this compares with appeals against refused visa applications from Canada and Australia.[HL955]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The table below shows the total number of applications lodged, applications refused, and appeals received, by our visa sections in Pakistan, Canada and Australia during 2003. A direct comparison of appeal statistics across different countries would be misleading. Citizens of Canada and Australia are not visa nationals and therefore do not require a visa to visit the United Kingdom. However, they must obtain entry clearance to come to the UK in another immigration category, such as working holidaymakers. Citizens of Pakistan on the other hand are visa nationals and would therefore require a visa to visit the UK. A substantial proportion of the appeals lodged in Pakistan relate to refusal for family visits.
| Pakistan | Canada | Australia | |
| Number of applications lodged in 2003 | 99,679 | 18,285 | 33,683 |
| Number of refused applications in 2003 | 14,012 | 135 | 48 |
| Number of appeals received in 2003 | 3,349 | 10 | 1 |
Lord Ahmed asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they intend to continue to use Gerry or Fedex private courier services for future visa applications to the British High Commission in Islamabad once a full service is resumed.[HL956]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: It is likely that a courier service will be retained for the foreseeable future. The contract for Gerry's or Fedex will be reviewed in June 2004.
Lord Ahmed asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will support the service provided by the Immigration Advisory Service in Mirpur, Azad Kashmir.[HL957]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: No. Her Majesty's Government do not support the Immigration Advisory Service provision of offices outside the United Kingdom but the High Commission in Islamabad will continue to liaise with any reputable organisation, which offers fair and impartial advice to applicants.
Lord Ahmed asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether all United Kingdom visa applications from Pakistani students for the 2003–04 academic year were processed in time for the start of that year.[HL958]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Statistics show that of the 14,315 applications for student entry clearance received last year at our High Commission in Islamabad, 13,089 were processed by 31 December 2003. Unfortunately these statistics do not break down in a way that indicates how many were processed in time for the start of the 2003–04 academic year. However, I can confirm that staff at our High Commission in Islamabad prioritised student applications over the period immediately before the start of the academic year.
Lord Ahmed asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they intend to resume the family reunion visa service in Islamabad.[HL959]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Entry clearance applications for family reunion from close family of those accepted as refugees in the UK have been accepted at the visa section of our High Commission in Islamabad since 22 January 2003.
Afghanistan
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What response they have made to the report of the United Nations Secretary General to the General Assembly (A/58/616 of 3 December 2003), and in particular to the conclusion that the international community must decide whether to increase its level of involvement in Afghanistan or risk failure.[HL980]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The report of the United Nations Secretary General to the General Assembly (A/58/616 of 3 December 2003) was discussed by the Security Council on 15 January in conjunction with a further report (S/2003/1212 of 30 December 2003). We agree with the Secretary
General's assessment in that second report that "a great deal has been achieved". The recent approval of a new constitution was a further significant milestone in the Bonn process.But we recognise that a great deal remains to be done, not least as the Afghan Government prepare for national elections. The UK and the international community remain committed to Afghanistan. We have increased our bilateral development assistance from the £200 million pledged in January 2002 to £322 million. For further details of international and UK assistance to Afghanistan please refer to the Afghanistan fact sheet available in the Library of the House.
A number of other developments, in which we are involved, illustrate the sustained and increasing international commitment. UNSCR 1510 expanded the mandate of the Internal Security Assistance Force (ISAF); work is now in hand to plan and resource ISAF activities outside Kabul. The network of provincial reconstruction teams is being substantially extended across Afghanistan. UK-led work to tackle drugs production continues; a joint UK/Afghan/UN international conference in Kabul on 9 February will seek additional international support for counter-narcotics activities. The Afghans also plan a wider international donor conference for the spring.
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What information they have about the identity and timing of the appointment of a successor to Mr Lakhdar Brahimi, the United Nations Secretary General's Special Representative on Afghanistan.[HL1001]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We understand that the United Nations Secretary General is still working to identify a successor to Mr Lakhdar Brahimi as Special Representative on Afghanistan. The UK is taking every opportunity to impress upon the UN and international partners the importance of appointing a successor quickly, to continue the good progress already made under the Bonn agreement.
Eritrea and Ethiopia
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What was the result of the visit by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Chris Mullin MP, to the Horn of Africa; and what response was made by Eritrea and Ethiopia respectively to his plea that the independent Border Commission's decision on the boundary between the two states should be accepted.[HL981]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Chris Mullin) visited Eritrea and Ethiopia from 13 to 19 January. He met President Isaias of Eritrea and Prime Minister Meles of Ethiopia. They discussed a range of issues,
including the border dispute between the two countries. The Minister reiterated to both parties that the decision of the Boundary Commission is final and binding. Neither party contested this, but the Ethiopian Government have some reservations about the implementation of the decision.
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