asked Her Majesty's Government:

How the 19,300 cases outstanding against Russia before the European Court of Human Rights on 1 January 2007 will be dealt with; and whether new procedures are needed to prevent further delays. [HL3307]

The Government fully support the work of the European Court of Human Rights and are a strong advocate of reform measures to improve its effectiveness. An efficient court is essential for the promotion and protection of human rights.

Both the UK and Russia agree on the need for reform of the court to ensure it functions more effectively and can address the backlog of cases. The UK believes that Protocol 14 to the European Convention on Human Rights must be implemented to achieve this goal and allow the court to address its increasing backlog. We are disappointed that Russia is the only Council of Europe member state not to have ratified the protocol. We, in concert with the majority of Council of Europe member states, the EU presidency and other EU member states, have called on Russia to ratify Protocol 14 swiftly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether any British citizens are charged in Russia with offences in connection with the Yukos oil company; whether any have been found guilty; and whether the Government have joined the requests of the European Court of Human Rights for full access for his family and lawyer to Mr V Aleksanyan, now in custody. [HL3308]

We are not aware of any British citizens having been charged in Russia in connection to the Yukos oil company.

We have not raised the case of Mr Aleksanyan with the Russian authorities since the Russian Federal Penal Service agreed to the Russian Human Rights Ombudsman's demands that he should be moved out of prison to a specialised clinic where he can receive vital treatment for his condition. However, we support the calls for his family and lawyer to have full access to Mr Aleksanyan and continue to monitor the situation closely.