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16 Mar 2007 : Column WA159
Written Answers
Friday 16 March 2007
Bangladesh: Chittagong Hill Tracts
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
What information they have received from the United Kingdom high commission in Dhaka about obstruction by local military or police units of a visit by officials of the Department for International Development to Mrochet and Bandarban in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh to inspect projects they were assisting. [HL2593]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): I have been informed of this incident both by DfID staff in Dhaka and by the British high commission (BHC). The high commission and DfID staff in Dhaka have liaised closely over the handling of the incident.
On 27 February, two DfID Bangladesh UK staff went to the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) to visit NGO partners receiving DfID funds via the Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not been notified officially of the visit but the NGO partners had alerted local authorities.
The two DfID staff were stopped at an army checkpoint in Bandarban. It is unclear whether the soldiers involved had been notified of the visit. However, they prevented the officials from visiting one of the partner NGOs—Mrochet. After a three-hour wait, they were allowed to proceed to visit another NGO. We subsequently received reports that, on 23 February, Mr Ranglai Mro, the executive director of Mrochet, had been arrested and allegedly physically mistreated in custody.
DfID alerted the BHC of the incident on return to Dhaka. The acting high commissioner raised the issue with the caretaker Government's adviser for foreign affairs (the de facto Minister) when he called on him on 12 March and the BHC also raised the issue at the EU heads of mission meeting on 11 March. The EU heads of mission agreed to démarche the caretaker Government's adviser for foreign affairs (the de facto Minister) on the issues of CHT affairs and human rights. BHC will ensure that the aide-memoire for this meeting refers to concerns over the obstruction of diplomatic officials making official visits.
An EU heads of mission visit to the CHT is scheduled for next week, during which the BHC will again pursue this issue, as well as a more general assessment of conditions in the CHT.
Climate Change
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress is being made in the study by Ministers in the Department for Environment,
16 Mar 2007 : Column WA160
Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Government are currently carrying out analysis looking at carbon abatement options beyond 2012. Once this analysis is available, we will be better able to assess the impacts of including surface transport in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS).
We are actively encouraging the European Commission and other member states to give this issue serious consideration as part of the ongoing review of the EU ETS.
Transport: Accidents
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many people died in the United Kingdom on 23 February in accidents (a) on the roads, and (b) on the railways. [HL2373]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: One person died in a train accident on Friday 23 February 2007.
Figures for personal injury road accidents are published in the annual Road Casualties Great Britain publication. Copies of the most recent publication containing data for 2005 can be found in the Libraries of both Houses. In 2005, there were on average nine people killed every day in reported personal injury road accidents. Data for 2007 will not be available until summer 2008.
Transport: Heavy Goods Vehicles
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 6 February (WA 134), why the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation 48, which is to be introduced in October 2009, cannot be introduced sooner. [HL2585]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: UNECE regulations are made following detailed international negotiations and established processes. Regulation 48 is already included in UK law, but the agreed earliest date that contracting parties can refuse to register new heavy trucks not fitted with reflective tape is 10 October 2009. In any case, the timescale for drafting an amending statutory instrument, drawing up a regulatory impact assessment and undertaking statutory public consultation on the amendments means that it would be difficult to bring in these changes a great deal sooner than the recognised date.
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