UK ‘concerned at military involvement in civilian activities’

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Sri Lanka

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of reports of discriminatory practices towards the Tamil people in Sri Lanka relating to (a) political rights, (b) education and(c) appropriation of land. [197620]

Mr Swire: We continue to monitor closely civil and political rights as well as land issues in Sri Lanka. We welcomed the Northern Provincial Council elections in Sri Lanka, which took place in September 2013. This was the first provincial council election held in the predominantly Tamil north since the 1987 establishment of provincial councils. The opposition, Tamil National Alliance, won over 80% of the vote. Local election observers noted that elections were

“relatively free from violence, though not from intimidation”.

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We have expressed concerns at military involvement in civilian activities in the north and are aware of reports that the military are involved in education.

The Prime Minister raised land rights and militarisation in the north of Sri Lanka during his November meeting with the Sri Lankan President Rajapaska. He called for a meaningful political settlement with the north, including demilitarisation and full implementation of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) recommendations.

We continue to underline to the Sri Lankan authorities the need for a long-term political settlement to address these underlying grievances and will continue to monitor these issues.

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking in Sri Lanka to create lasting peace and reconciliation. [197621]

Mr Swire: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I have given to question 186379 on 6 February 2013, Official Report,column 358W.

Staff

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of staff of (a) his Department and (b) agencies and public bodies accountable to him work outside of London; and in which local authorities such staff are located. [187268]

Hugh Robertson: Working outside London, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have staff in the following local authority areas: London borough of Croydon (less than 1%) and Milton Keynes (9%).

FCO Services have staff in Milton Keynes (68%).

Wilton Park has staff in Horsham district council (100%).

British Council have staff in Belfast city council (0.35%), Cardiff city council (0.37%), City of Edinburgh council (0.56%) and Manchester city council (2.99%).

Westminster Foundation for Democracy have no staff working outside London.

Great Britain-China Centre have no staff working outside London.

Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission do not employ staff.