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Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to him or to the United Nations by the United Nations Children's Fund concerning the effects sanctions have had on the children and young people of Iraq ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg : I am not aware of any UNICEF representations to us or the United Nations about the effect of sanctions on the children of Iraq.

Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made on the effects the UN sanctions have had on the medical provision and supplies to the civilian population of Iraq ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg : The provision of medical supplies is specifically exempted from United Nations sanctions on Iraq. The Security Council has also provided means under its resolutions 706 and 712 for the Government of Iraq to export a fixed quantity of oil in order to pay for such supplies ; although the Iraqis have refused to make use of this facility. With the help of information from UN agencies and British non-governmental organisations we keep all aspects of the humanitarian situation in Iraq under review.

MV Playa

Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has in respect of the Yugoslav ship Playa detained in the port of Liverpool ; what the policy is towards the crew of the ship ; if communication with the outside world is permitted ; when he expects the ship to be released ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg : The MV Playa is a Montenegran-owned ship. Under paragraph 24 of Security Council resolution 820, we are obliged to impound all vessels, freight vehicles, rolling stock and aircraft of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the United Kingdom. The crew can be supplied with water, gas, solid fuel, medical products, goods for personal hygiene and goods for cleansing under an open licence which has been granted by the DTI. The supply of other goods may be authorised on request.

There are no restrictions on the crew's ability to communicate and they are free to leave the United Kingdom at any time.

The ship cannot be moved until it is either sold to non-Federal Republic of Yugoslavia nationals or until sanctions are lifted.

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Scott Inquiry

Mr. Byers : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many current and former officials and Ministers in his Department have been asked to give written or oral evidence to the Scott inquiry.

Mr. Douglas Hogg : Thirty-one FCO officials--27 serving and four former--and eight FCO Ministers--two serving and six former--have been asked to supply written evidence to Lord Justice Scott's inquiry. Of these, 19 officials--16 serving and three former--and seven Ministers--one serving and six former--subsequently

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have been asked to attend to give oral evidence. All officials and Ministers asked to supply written evidence, and to give oral evidence, have done so.

Entry Clearance

Mr. Matthew Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what amendments have been made to the list of posts designated to accept entry clearance applications overseas.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The latest list has been placed in the Libraries of the House today.

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