§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on closer scrutiny of the human rights situation in Guatemala by the United Nations human rights commission;
(2) what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations special rapporteur on Afghanistan;
(3) what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations special rapporteur on Romania;
(4) what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations special rapporteur on Chile;
(5) what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations special rapporteur on Iran;
(6) what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations special rapporteur on El Salvador.
§ Mr. SainsburyWe strongly support the United Nations system of special rapporteurs and special advisers on human rights. We shall be studying their recommendations to this year's commission on human rights and, in the light of these recommendations, shall make a decision on each of their mandates.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether Her Majesty's Government will raise human rights violations in Burma in the United Nations human rights commission;
(2) whether Her Majesty's Government will raise the human rights situation in Sri Lanka in the current session of the United Nations human rights commission;
(3) whether Her Majesty's Government will raise the human rights situation in Peru at the forthcoming session of the United nations human rights commission;
(4) whether Her Majesty's Government will raise the torture and ill-treatment of political prisoners in Turkey at the forthcoming session of the United Nations human rights commission.
§ Mr. SainsburyAt this year's commission on human rights, for the first time, the 12 members of the European Community agreed to make a common statement on item 12 (country situations). In view of this development, national statements will not be made. The common statement was delivered by the Irish Presidency on 21 February. It raised our concerns about human rights in a wide range of countries including Burma and Sri Lanka. It did not raise Peru or Turkey. A copy of the statement is being placed in the Library of the House.