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Tuesday Volume 569 29 October 2013 No. 65 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Tuesday 29 October 2013 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2013 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 739 29 OCTOBER 2013 740 Hugh Robertson: I am due to make my first visit to House of Commons the region next week, so will be addressing many of the concerns outlined in the hon. Gentleman’s question. As he knows, the Foreign Office funded the report carried Tuesday 29 October 2013 out by Baroness Scotland. We continue to urge the Government of Israel to implement it in full. As I have The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock said, I will be taking that up next week. Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere) (Con): I warmly PRAYERS welcome the Minister to his responsibilities—if I may say so, he brings a terrific track record. Does the Minister agree that the question of detainees [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] is inextricably linked to the overall security situation in the region and progress in peace talks? Does he share BUSINESS BEFORE QUESTIONS my concern that Hamas is resolutely and literally trying to undermine the peace process in the region by building a tunnel from Gaza into Israel, no doubt for the purposes LONDON LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND TRANSPORT FOR of promoting terrorism? What can we do to remove that LONDON (NO.2)BILL [LORDS] obstacle? Third Reading opposed and deferred until Tuesday 5 November (Standing Order No. 20). Mr Speaker: That was quite a cheeky attempt by the hon. Gentleman. I think the Minister should try to HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL (FILMING ON focus his remarks on the issue of child detainees. We are HIGHWAYS)BILL [LORDS] grateful to him for doing so. Second Reading opposed and deferred until Tuesday 5 November (Standing Order No. 20). Hugh Robertson: Thank you, Mr Speaker—it will, of course, be a great pleasure. As I said in my answer to the previous question, I look forward to my initial visit to the region next week. Oral Answers to Questions The concerns that my hon. Friend raises will be a topic of much discussion. The encouraging thing is that, for the first time in many years, we are in a process. I encourage both sides to engage in that peace process for FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE the greater good of the country and the region. The Secretary of State was asked— Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith) (Lab): When the Minister visits the region, will he raise with his Israeli Palestinian Child Detainees counterparts why Israel is the only country in the world that systematically tries children in military courts, and 1. Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab): What why about a quarter of the children currently in custody assessment he has made of the treatment of Palestinian are held in Israel, which is also contrary to international child detainees in Israel. [900728] law? The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Hugh Robertson: Yes, I will do so. As I have said, the Office (Hugh Robertson): Before answering, may I briefly Foreign Office helped to fund Baroness Scotland’s excellent place on the record my appreciation for the work of my report into many of the issues surrounding child detainees. predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for North We not only funded that report, but entirely support it. East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt)? He will be greatly During my time as a Minister, I will do everything I can missed by his many friends in the House and across the to ensure that its recommendations are properly and region. correctly implemented. Despite some progress, we retain serious concerns about Israel’s treatment of Palestinian child detainees. Mr David Burrowes (Enfield, Southgate) (Con): I join The British ambassador in Tel Aviv wrote again to the hon. Members who have concerns about the treatment Israeli Justice Minister on 14 October to urge further of detainees, but is it not important to focus on the action. source of the problem, which is Palestinian children being infected by the glorification of violence and hate Alex Cunningham: I welcome the Minister to his new education, which, sadly, are supported by the Palestinian post. May I commend the Foreign Office report “Children Authority? Can the Minister assure me that taxpayer in Military Custody” for exposing how the authorities funding does not support such activities? in Israel arrest Palestinian children in the middle of the night, interrogate them without parents or lawyers present, Hugh Robertson: Yes, on the basis of three weeks’ bully them into signing confessions in a language they work, I can give my hon. Friend that assurance. In a do not understand, and jail children as young as 12 years sense, his question points to the importance of everybody old? Will the Minister outline what action he is taking concerned getting behind the peace process. If that and tell the House how many of the 40 recommendations comes successfully to fruition, many of those problems in the report have been carried out? will be solved in its wake. 741 Oral Answers29 OCTOBER 2013 Oral Answers 742 Detention of British Nationals (Russia) appointed him as one of his champions of the single currency in the Labour party. Having served his time in quarantine, he is now being allowed out again. 2. Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab): What representations he has made to the Russian The hon. Gentleman may not have been here yesterday, authorities regarding the recent detention of six British but my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made it nationals in that country. [900729] clear at the Dispatch Box that he stood ready to speak to President Putin whenever that would best help the welfare of those who are being detained and lead to a The Minister for Europe (Mr David Lidington): My satisfactory outcome for them. The search for a satisfactory right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised the matter outcome to this case remains at the top of the Government’s with the Russian Foreign Affairs Minister on 25 September priorities, and it determines how we handle individual and again on 6 October. Our ambassador in Moscow representations. did the same with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Titov of Russia on 22 October. Sri Lanka (Human Rights) Mr Cunningham: I thank the right hon. Gentleman 3. Wayne David (Caerphilly) (Lab): What recent for that answer, but there are reports that some British assessment he has made of the human rights situation nationals in Murmansk prison have not had access to in Sri Lanka. [900730] medical attention, and that some are in solitary confinement. What representations have the Government made regarding The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth the conditions of their pre-trial detention and their Affairs (Mr William Hague): We have serious concerns access to medical treatment? What response have the about the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, including Government received? freedom of expression and judicial independence. I will use my attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Mr Lidington: Since the detentions were announced Government meeting to see the situation on the ground by the Russian authorities, we have sent a team of and raise our concerns directly with the Sri Lankan British officials each week to Murmansk to ensure that Government. the detainees’ consular needs are being properly looked after. We have taken up with the prison authorities, or Wayne David: I thank the Foreign Secretary for that with other Russian authorities as appropriate, all the reply. However, if he and the Prime Minister are to concerns that the detainees themselves have expressed attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, to us about the conditions in which they are being held. what will their strategy be to ensure that the Sri Lankan At the moment, they are telling us that their conditions authorities hear loudly and clearly the representations are “broadly acceptable”, but we stand ready to take up that are being made and, more importantly, take action? any further concerns that they may have. Mr Hague: Of course we will take up these issues. Martin Horwood (Cheltenham) (LD): Given the The Prime Minister and I will visit the north of Sri unjustifiable detention of British citizens, will Ministers Lanka to see for ourselves what is happening. We will follow the example of Councillor Wendy Flynn, mayor press the Sri Lankan Government to investigate all of Cheltenham, which is Sochi’s twin town, and refuse human rights abuses, including the shocking allegations any offers of hospitality or visits in connection with of acts of sexual violence committed during and after Sochi’s winter Olympics in 2014? the conflict. We will urge them to allow free expression and to stop intimidation of journalists, and call on them to bring about reconciliation and political reform. Mr Lidington: I am afraid that the Government rules It is important that we give that message to them in on accepting hospitality are already strict and limit person. what Ministers can do. The key point is that the Sochi winter Olympics will provide an opportunity for people from this country, including journalists and editors, to 19. [900748] Sir Malcolm Rifkind (Kensington) (Con): meet and engage with Russians of all backgrounds and It is both unfortunate and disturbing that the to stand up for the values in which we believe. Commonwealth Heads of Government conference is being held in Sri Lanka at this time. While the intention of the Prime Minister to visit northern Sri Lanka, Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West) (Lab/Co-op): As where the Tamils mainly live, is very much to be these exchanges have reinforced, there is concern on welcomed, will he and my right hon.