To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is any institution in southern Cyprus to which Turkish Cypriots living outside southern Cyprus may apply for compensation or restitution in respect of properties which they were required to leave in southern Cyprus. [HL1542]

Properties owned by Turkish Cypriots in the south are governed by the Turkish Cypriot Properties Management and Other Matters (Temporary Provisions) Law which provides for the payment of compensation after a settlement has been achieved.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Greek Cypriots need to bring actions in English courts for compensation for their property, in view of them being able to apply to the Immovable Property Commission established by the government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. [HL1543]

It is up to individuals to decide which legal route they want to avail themselves of when applying for compensation for their property.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the case brought by Mr Apostolides against Mr and Mrs Orams was financed or sponsored by the Greek Cypriot administration in Cyprus. [HL1544]

As far as we are aware the Government of the Republic of Cyprus did not finance or sponsor the case.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement by the President of Cyprus, Dimitris Christofias, on 20 January that the Apostolides v Orams case is a case of political importance. [HL1545]

President Christofias commented that the decision “has a legal and political importance”, ratifying the decision made by the Cyprus court. The property issue can only be fully resolved by a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem. Both leaders remain committed to the settlement process. On 25 January 2010 President Christofias said “the goal must be for the talks to succeed”.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the effect of the Apostolides v Orams case on the settlement negotiations in progress between the leaders of the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots. [HL1546]

The Apostolides v Orams case has not so far had an impact on the settlement negotiations. The property issue can only be fully resolved by a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem. The two leaders are determined to continue with the talks and the Government continue fully to support them in their efforts to achieve a comprehensive settlement.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, as a guarantor power, they have evaluated the benefits for Greek Cypriots living outside Northern Cyprus who claim to have been the owners of land in Northern Cyprus in or before 1974 of being able to apply for compensation or restitution to the Immovable Property Commission established by the government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which many Greek Cypriots have done. [HL1579]

The Government have made no such evaluation. The European Court of Human Rights is expected to rule shortly on whether the Immovable Property Commission constitutes a fair and effective remedy for the original owners of property in the north.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Prime Minister has received from the Prime Minister of Turkey representations about whether the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Apostolides v Orams will be used by Greek Cypriots to jeopardise the peace negotiations in Cyprus. [HL1580]

My right honourable friend the Prime Minister recently spoke with the Turkish Prime Minister about a range of issues, including the Cyprus settlement process. Both agreed that the opportunity for progress remained.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Apostolides v Orams has affected the balance between the property rights of Turkish Cypriots, who cannot apply to English courts in respect of properties which they were required to leave in southern Cyprus, and the rights of Greek Cypriots. [HL1581]

The rights of Turkish Cypriots owning properties in the south is governed by the Turkish Cypriot Properties Management and Other Matters (Temporary Provisions) Law in the Republic of Cyprus. Turkish Cypriots would only be able to apply to the English courts in the event that a court of the Republic of Cyprus upheld a complaint against an infringement of their property rights by an individual or group holding assets in the UK.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their support for a negotiated settlement in Cyprus means that Turkish Cypriots will have to live under their current restrictions until the Greek Cypriots agree to a settlement, including if, as in 2004, a settlement is endorsed by the United Kingdom, the United States, the United Nations and the European Union as fair and reasonable. [HL1582]

The Government continue to support efforts to improve the economic situation of the Turkish Cypriots and help prepare them for reunification through measures such as financial aid and trade liberalisation.