HL Deb 03 December 2001 vol 629 c83WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they consider that their policy of constructive engagements and dialogue with Iran has been able to decrease the numbers of:

(a) executions (including the hanging of women in public);

(b) public floggings; and

(c) confiscations of satellite dishes and receivers. [HL1562]

Baroness Amos

Since the election of the reformist government of President Khatami in 1997, and the EU and UK's consequent constructive engagement with Iran, much progress has been made towards President Khatami's stated aim of an Islamic civil society based on the rule of law. As the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran said in his report of 10 August, there are signs that the incorporation of human rights values into Iranian society is proceeding at an accelerating rate.

£000s
Resources Capital
Change New DEL Of which: Voted Non-voted Change New DEL Of which: Voted Non-voted
—2,416 1,236,138 1,067,237 168,901 —790 126,566 103,066 23,500

The change in the resource element of the DEL arises from:

1. A reduction of £960,000 in the FCO's administration cost limit as a result of a PES (Public Expenditure Survey) transfer to the DTI, relating to funding arrangements for British Trade International.

2. A PES transfer of £886,000 to the Cabinet Office relating to funding arrangements for the BBC Monitoring Service.

3. A PES transfer of £570,000 to DfID to reflect funding arrangements for a refurbishment project.

The change in the capital element of the DEL arises from a PES transfer of £790,000 to the DTI relating to funding arrangements for British Trade International.

The decreases are offset by interdepartmental transfers and will not impact on the planned total of public expenditure.