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Bosnia (War Crimes)
Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions the United Kingdom has taken to secure international funding to support the work of the war crimes tribunal in Bosnia. [38117]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia is funded by assessed and voluntary contributions.
We encourage all member states to pay their assessed contributions promptly and in full as we do. We have also made voluntary contributions of almost £600,000 to the office of the prosecutor and hope that others follow our example.
Mr. Pickthall:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role the implementation force--IFOR--troops have in seeking out war crimes suspects. [38118]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor:
IFOR troops will detain and transfer to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia any persons indicted by the tribunal whom they encounter in the performance of their duties if circumstances permit.
Mr. Bayley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the Government's policy in respect of the political charter concluded in April 1996 between the Government of Sudan and the southern Sudanese factions. [39026]
Mr. Hanley:
The charter contains positive elements. However, the largest southern Sudanese faction, the Sudan People's Liberation Army--SPLA--is not a party to it. It is not yet clear if the charter is a serious peace initiative.
We urge all parties to pursue peace through negotiation. It is time for the Sudanese Government and the SPLA each to test the professed readiness of the other for peace. A monitored ceasefire, allowing unconditional delivery of humanitarian aid, would be an excellent start.
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representation he has received about and what assessment he has made of the effects of the exclusion of the Caribbean banana-producing states from the disputes panel at the World Trade Organisation. [38995]
Mr. David Davis:
The European Commission, strongly encouraged by the UK, pressed for full African Caribbean and Pacific participation in the World Trade Organisation panel set up to examine complaints about the EU banana regime. However, the panel ruled on 13 June after the ACP states would be able to attend its first substantive meeting and present their case there. The Government have not yet received any direct representations from
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Caribbean Governments about this. However, the UK will continue to encourage the Commission to ensure that Caribbean interests are adequately defended.
Mr. Lloyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the time allocated to the African, Caribbean and Pacific group of states to prepare their case for presentation at the World Trade Organisation; and if he will make a statement. [38996]
Mr. Davis:
The dispute settlement panel of the World Trade Organisation, established to examine complaints against the EU banana regime, ruled on 13 June that the ACP group of states would have to present their arguments in the WTO banana dispute on 13 August. Panel proceedings in the WTO are required to be completed within set time scales, and the time allocation in this case is no different from other cases. The Government will continue to support the European Commission in defending the interests of the ACP robustly in the WTO.
Mrs. Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy, when considering the consolidation of the assessment and monitoring procedures of the United Kingdom military training assistance scheme, to include selection methods, regulation of training methods, content of the training programme and procedures for follow up assessment. [38624]
Mr. David Davis:
Selection methods and follow up assessments are regularly monitored to ensure that this Department's UKMTAS programme for overseas countries is achieving value for money and overall objectives. Training course content and methodology are the responsibility of the various UK training establishments, which operate to high professional standards.
Mrs. Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to replace the present method of assessment of the United Kingdom military training assistance scheme in Guatemala with an assessment and monitoring procedure which is wholly independent. [38623]
Mr. Davis:
The scheme is already constantly monitored to ensure that value for money and overall foreign policy objectives are being achieved.
Mr. Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what United Kingdom taxes the general expenditure allowance and the secretarial assistance allowance paid to United Kingdom Members of the European Parliament are subject. [38963]
Mr. David Davis:
The allowances of Members of the European Parliament are not subject to UK taxes.
Mr. Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the rules governing the payment of the international travel allowance to United Kingdom Members of the European Parliament for non-official meetings. [39865]
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Mr. Davis:
To claim the travel allowance, Members of the European Parliament must make a declaration that the journey was made in pursuit of their duties and provide supporting documentation in the form of an invitation or programme of the visit. The European Parliament guidelines require Members to produce tickets and receipts in order to obtain a refund of costs.
Mr. Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current level, in pounds sterling, of the allowance paid to United Kingdom Members of the European Parliament for international travel not connected with official meetings. [38964]
Mr. Davis:
A travel allowance of up to 3000 ecu or £2,480 per year is available to MEPs to meet the costs of travel in performance of their duties, for purposes other than official meetings.
Mr. Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current level, in pounds sterling, of (a) the general expenditure allowance and (b) the secretarial assistance allowance paid to United Kingdom Members of the European Parliament. [38962]
Mr. Davis:
The general expenditure allowance is currently, 3,099 ecu or £2,562 per month.
The secretarial assistance allowance is £8,937 ecu or £7,389 per month.
Mr. Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the administration procedure by which United Kingdom Members of the European Parliament claim payment of (a) the general expenditure allowance and (b) the secretarial assistance allowance. [38966]
Mr. Davis:
Both allowances are claimed by filling out the appropriate application form available in the European Parliament. The general expenditure allowance is paid as a lump sum and without need to produce justification. The secretarial assistance allowance is only paid on declaration of a contact between a Member of the European Parliament and an assistant. The allowance is paid directly to the assistant.
Mr. Madden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons Her Majesty's Government withdrew funding from the European Youth Foundation under the cultural convention at the Council of Europe; and if he will make a statement. [38956]
Mr. David Davis:
The decision to cease our annual endowment to the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe with effect from 1 January 1997 was made in the context of our determination to take the steps necessary to reduce public expenditure and consequently, the burden on the taxpayer. Participation in the EYF is voluntary. Set against this backdrop, it was not possible to exempt the EYF from this process of financial constraint. We do, however, continue to support young people and European youth activities through our contribution to the general budget of the Council of Europe.
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Mr. Alton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the procedure followed by British missions overseas when foreign nationals of the mission's host country request asylum at the mission. [39033]
Mr. Hanley:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) on 22 July 1996, Official Report, column 40.
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