§ Mr. AncramTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what the1790W (SFR) publication, SFR 31/2003, entitled 'Participation in Education, Training and Employment by 16 to 18-year-olds in England:2001 and 2002'.
The table shows the number of 17-year-olds participating in full-time education by institution type from end 1997 to end 2002.
Government's position is regarding the appointment of a Supreme Court in Afghanistan by the President of Afghanistan; [160234]
(2) what steps the Government is taking to ensure a free and fair judiciary in Afghanistan; [160235]
(3) what the Government's position is regarding the appointment of a state commission to appoint (a) members of the judiciary and (b) the Supreme Court in Afghanistan. [160243]
§ Mr. StrawWe are working closely with the Afghan Government and Italy (lead-nation on judicial and penal reform) on the reconstruction of the judiciary (including a new Supreme Court). We are also considering how best to support the Afghan Government as it arrests and prosecutes those involved in the production and trafficking of narcotics.
In October 2002 President Karzai appointed a Judicial Commission of distinguished Afghan legal professionals to oversee the reform to the judiciary. The UK supports Afghanistan in developing a justice system which is speedy, fair, transparent and accessible to all. The UK has contributed £0.5 million to a UNDP programme on the reform of the judiciary and has committed £232,000 to penal reform, through Penal Reform International.
The new Afghan Constitution establishes that the nine members of the Supreme Court should be appointed by the President, with the approval of the Wolesi Jirga (lower house of the new National Assembly). Until elections for the Wolesi Jirga take place, the current Supreme Court will continue to sit. After the elections. a new Supreme Court will be established within thirty days.