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Tuesday Volume 513 6 July 2010 No. 27 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Tuesday 6 July 2010 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2010 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through the Office of Public Sector Information website at www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/ Enquiries to the Office of Public Sector Information, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; e-mail: [email protected] 153 6 JULY 2010 154 Marange fields in Zimbabwe are subject to it. In that House of Commons way, diamonds could actually help the economic development of Zimbabwe in future. We would like to Tuesday 6 July 2010 sort that out within the Kimberley process, so that those diamonds can then be used productively. The House met at half-past Two o’clock Gavin Williamson: What action is my right hon. Friend taking with other African nations to ensure that PRAYERS Zimbabwe adopts a new constitution and ends the endemic corruption within the country? [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Mr Hague: We work closely with our partners around Africa, foremost among which, of course, is South Africa. We support its efforts and those of President Oral Answers to Questions Zuma to engage closely with Zimbabwe and to push it towards reform. We—the UK and other donors—also support, through the UN development programme, the implementation of the Zimbabwean constitution. Given FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE the concerns that my hon. Friend and others have raised, I should say that that happens not through direct funding of the Zimbabwean Government, but The Secretary of State was asked— through that UN programme. UK-Zimbabwe Relations Kate Hoey (Vauxhall) (Lab): The Prime Minister will 1. Laura Sandys (South Thanet) (Con): What his know that Morgan Tsvangirai was promised by the most recent assessment is of the state of UK-Zimbabwe African Union and SADC that they would honour the relations. [5775] global political agreement and ensure that it worked, but clearly they have not done so. Can we do anything 4. Jessica Lee (Erewash) (Con): What his most recent more to put pressure on the AU and SADC, without assessment is of the state of UK-Zimbabwe relations. which we will never get the free and fair elections that [5778] will make Zimbabwe once again a flourishing nation? 8. Gavin Williamson (South Staffordshire) (Con): Mr Hague: We can put diplomatic pressure on those What his most recent assessment is of the state of organisations—that is the leverage we have. The hon. UK-Zimbabwe relations. [5782] Lady may think that that is not substantial enough, but that is what such pressure amounts to—working with The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth those countries, particularly South Africa, and of course Affairs (Mr William Hague): We want to do all that we with reformers in Zimbabwe, to try to ensure that the can to support the aspirations of the Zimbabwean global political agreement is properly respected. The people for a peaceful, prosperous and democratic UK will remain a strong voice for that, but we cannot Zimbabwe. We will work with reformers in Zimbabwe guarantee it on our own. and the region to maximise the prospects for achieving the reforms necessary for properly conducted elections. Mr David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab): The noble Baroness Laura Sandys: What can the British Government do Ashton, as the EU foreign affairs chief, recently met for British nationals who were born in Zimbabwe whose Zimbabwean Ministers to discuss what she termed human property has been expropriated by the Zimbabwe rights abuses and political development. I understand Government, some of whom live in South Thanet? that a ¤20 million grant is currently being made available to the Zimbabwean authorities as Baroness Ashton Mr Hague: We condemn illegal farm and property seeks to make concrete progress on those political objectives. seizures, which contravene the global political agreement Does the Secretary of State have any idea what concrete and a Southern African Development Community decision, progress means in reality? and which do nothing to advance Zimbabwe’s economy —we should make that very clear. Economic regeneration Mr Hague: I think we can fairly say that concrete in Zimbabwe depends on respect for the rule of law, and progress would be a great deal more than anything that we urge the Zimbabwean Government to respect the is happening at the moment. There have been no noticeable rule of law and to end such seizures. improvements in the human rights situation in Zimbabwe, and we are deeply concerned about harassment and Jessica Lee: In the light of the concerns raised by the politically inspired detentions, which continue in that UN’s Kimberley process into mining diamonds in country.Concrete progress means a lot more than anything Zimbabwe, what measures do the Government have in we have seen so far. place to ensure that conflict diamonds do not make their way into the UK? Dr William McCrea (South Antrim) (DUP): Have Mr Hague: The European Union, including the United our Government any new initiatives or plans for such Kingdom, has called for efforts to reach agreement initiatives to deal with Mugabe’s ruthless regime, under through the Kimberley process so that all mining in the which many people are starving or subject to persecution? 155 Oral Answers6 JULY 2010 Oral Answers 156 Mr Hague: It is not within the UK’s power alone to approach. In that context, does the Minister agree with deal with Mugabe’s regime. It is possible to do many the Secretary of State for Defence that our troops will things to try to improve the situation, some of which I be the last to leave Afghanistan? mentioned in answer to previous questions, such as working with South Africa and other partners in Africa, Mr Browne rose— supporting the implementation of the constitution with development money—my right hon. Friend the Secretary Mr Speaker: Order. I say this with a degree of trepidation, of State for International Development will continue to but I am not quite sure how the right hon. Gentleman support that while reviewing the situation—and stressing has managed to shoehorn his inquiry in question No. 2. the need for economic progress and the possibility of Could he explain briefly? economic regeneration in Zimbabwe. It is a case of continuing all those things to try to help the situation in David Miliband: As I said, the drive for good governance Zimbabwe rather than introducing one bold new initiative. and against corruption in Afghanistan is a central part of our strategy, and it is combined with military effort. I Human Rights and Democracy Programme Fund am asking a simple question about whether the Minister agrees with the Defence Secretary that our troops will 2. Mr William Bain (Glasgow North East) (Lab): be the last to leave Afghanistan. What plans he has for the future of his Department’s strategic programme fund for human rights and Mr Speaker: I am sure that the Minister will wish to democracy. [5776] focus on the programme fund in his reply. The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Mr Browne: I will indeed, Mr Speaker. I assure you Office (Mr Jeremy Browne): My right hon. Friend the and all hon. Members that we attach the utmost importance Foreign Secretary announced a 10% reduction this year to human rights and democracy in Afghanistan. in the strategic programme fund for human rights and democracy, as a contribution to reducing public expenditure, David Miliband: I am pleased to hear that. The Minister while making clear our desire to sustain such programmes will know that an important part of the programme in future years. Programme funds are only one way in relates to the development of the peace jirga that was which the British Government uphold human rights, recently held in Afghanistan. The Foreign Secretary which are also a major focus of our overall bilateral and said of President Karzai’s peace jirga that it marked a multilateral diplomatic activity. “comprehensive, inclusive and genuinely representative political process”. Mr Bain: I thank the Minister for that reply, but will He is certainly right that it is important. However, the he go a little further to allay the concerns of right hon. two most internationally respected members of President and hon. Members and say that there will be no further Karzai’s Government—Interior Minister Atmar and reductions in the funds available for this important spy chief Sahel—have resigned because of the failings project, which boosts human rights, democracy and the at that jirga. Will the Minister explain whether the abolition of the death penalty in countries such as Iran, Foreign Secretary met opposition leader Abdullah when China and Russia? he was in Kabul and what he will do to ensure that these funds continue to be used for the vital task of building a Mr Browne: I share all the hon. Gentleman’s objectives, political settlement in Afghanistan? and we wish to minimise the impact of this reduction. We certainly do not seek further reductions. It is worth Mr Browne: We continue to work closely with the making the additional point that programme funds are Afghan Government. On the specific and narrow issue not the only means by which we deliver these policies. of programme funds, I can again reassure the House Our ambassadors and our network of staff around the that our relations with the Afghan Government and our world are delivering these foreign policy objectives for efforts in Afghanistan go way beyond anything that we Britain every single day.
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