§ Jeremy CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what participation in the Somali peace process has been undertaken by UK representatives; and if he will make a statement. [127176]
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§ Mr. MullinAn official from our High Commission in Nairobi is a member of the international observer group giving informal advice to the reconciliation conference's Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Technical Committee (and its Chair, Ambassador Kiplagat). Britain has also contributed to a number of other initiatives designed to assist the talks, which continue to work towards reconciliation and agreement on an effective and inclusive government for Somalia.
§ Jeremy CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with what Somali groups and human rights organisations his officials have had discussions in the past year; and what his Department's assessment is of the human rights situation in Somalia. [127177]
§ Mr. MullinOfficials in Addis Ababa, Nairobi and London have had extensive and regular contacts with large numbers of Somali civil society organisations with an interest in human rights. Without any effective central government in Somalia, and given the number of disparate armed groups, citizens' rights are routinely abused, especially in southern areas in conflict, However, the situation in Somaliland, which has a democratic government and functioning institutions, is better, with no reports of gross human rights violations.
§ Jeremy CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what UK diplomatic staff have visited Mogadishu in the past year. [127178]
§ Mr. MullinNone.
§ Jeremy CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contacts UK representatives have with the effective Government of Somaliland in Hargeisa; and what plans the Government has to grant it diplomatic recognition. [127179]
§ Mr. MullinThe British Ambassador in Addis Ababa, his consular and political officers, representatives from our High Commission in Nairobi, and representatives from other Whitehall Departments all visit Hargeisa regularly to meet representatives of the authorities there. There have also been several contacts in Addis Ababa and London. We have no plans to recognise an independent Somaliland.
§ Jeremy CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the number of Somali people in refugee camps in countries neighbouring Somalia who wish to join their families in the United Kingdom; and what facilities are offered in British missions in(a) Addis Ababa and (b) Nairobi to facilitate this. [127512]
§ Mr. MullinThere are no reliable data on numbers of Somalis in refugee camps wishing to join relatives with leave to remain in the United Kingdom. Our diplomatic mission in Addis Ababa routinely receives and processes applications from Somalis wishing to settle in Britain. Nairobi suspended its processing operation for Somali settlement visas in November 2002 due to security concerns arising from the Mombasa bombing. Following a recent review, it plans to resume this service on a limited basis in the next few months.