§ Dr. IddonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what action he is taking to bring to justice those who have murdered British citizens during the recent disturbances in the Indian state of Gujarat; [58384]
814W(2) if he will press the Indian Government to bring to justice those who have murdered British citizens during the recent disturbances in Gujarat; [58385]
(3) if he will publish the British High Commission report on the disturbances in the Indian state of Gujarat; [58380]
(4) what discussions he has had with the Indian Government about the conclusions of the British High Commission report on disturbances in Gujarat; [58386]
(5) what his estimate is of the (a) number of refugees living in camps in the Indian state of Gujarat and (b) number killed in the recent disturbances in Gujarat; [58381]
(6) what assistance the British Government have provided (a) to help bring peace to the Indian state of Gujarat and (b) to help those made homeless by the recent disturbances there. [58382]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienWe share my hon. Friend's concerns over the recent communal violence and deaths in Gujarat. We have regularly raised our concerns with the Indian Government, both through the Foreign Secretary and via our High Commission in Delhi. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary most recently discussed the situation on 16 April with Jaswant Singh, the Indian Foreign Minister. The Indian Government have given us their assurances that they will take action to investigate the violence and to bring to justice perpetrators of the killings, including those who have murdered British citizens. We welcome these assurances. We do not plan to publish any internal reporting from our High Commission in New Delhi on Gujarat.
An estimated 100,000 displaced people are currently living in refugee camps in Gujarat. According to official Indian Government figures, the number of deaths currently stands at over 900.
The British Government, through the Department for International Development, are currently assessing the situation with the Government of India, the State Government of Gujarat, select international agencies and local partners. Together, carefully targeted interventions will address the changing needs of those now choosing to return, and those likely to remain in the camps through the monsoon season.