Asked by: Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat - Colchester)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Burmese counterpart on allowing international observers to monitor a future national ceasefire agreement; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Swire
A national ceasefire agreement in Burma is still being negotiated. Negotiations include discussions on the nature and extent of ceasefire monitoring mechanisms and on the role international observers could play. Our Ambassador in Rangoon has made clear our strong support for international observers of any future ceasefire. Ultimately this is a matter for the various Burmese parties themselves to decide.
Asked by: Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat - Colchester)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the reasons were for the UK's abstention on a Resolution before the UN to require Israel to withdraw from the territory it has occupied since 1967.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We have long believed that direct negotiations towards a two state-solution need to be on the basis of clear, internationally agreed, parameters. We therefore welcomed the idea of an United Nations Security Council Resolution on the Middle East Peace Process which sets these out. We supported much of the content of the resolution. However, there were important issues which required proper negotiation, including the inclusion of arbitrary deadlines. Regretfully, this did not happen, so we abstained.
Asked by: Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat - Colchester)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to implement a replacement programme to introduce LED lighting throughout his Department's buildings and sites; if he will estimate the proportion of lighting in his Department which is LED; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Lidington
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is committed to meeting the Greener Government Commitments and to reducing the energy use of its operations. As part of that commitment the FCO continues to replace all obsolete light fittings and fittings that are affected by major refurbishment projects with Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), provided a suitable LED variant is available and it represents the best solution for the application.
Currently the estimated proportion of LEDs within the FCO’s UK estate is:
Carlton Gardens = 65%
Hanslope Park = 5%
King Charles Street = 20%
Lancaster House = 70%
Northgate House = 13%
Old Admiralty Building = 4%
These figures will increase significantly as more LEDs are installed in King Charles Street as part of the FCO’s UK Estate Reform Project, due for completion in 2015. In addition, the FCO’s forward maintenance programme continues to identify any additional areas where LEDs or improved lighting systems can be introduced as more cost effective applications.
This response relates to the FCO’s UK estate only. To provide answers on behalf of the FCO’s Diplomatic Missions would incur a disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat - Colchester)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on deforestation of uncontacted Indians' land in the Chaco region of Paraguay; and if he will make it his policy to liaise with other governments and international agencies to make representations to the government of Paraguay to halt that deforestation.
Answered by Lord Swire
We have received reports from both local and international non-governmental organisations regarding the deforestation of the Chaco region of Paraguay. Our Embassy in Asuncion, accompanied by the World Land Trust and Guyra-Paraguay, met the Environment Minister earlier this year to urge the Government to adopt sustainable development principles and consider the needs of the indigenous people in the area.