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EUROPOL
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has received concerning the extension of the powers and duties of EUROPOL; what consultations he has initiated and with which bodies on these matters; and if he will make a statement. [3930]
Mr. Michael:
EUROPOL will be a central body in the European Union for the exchange and analysis of intelligence on serious and organised trans-national crime. Its powers and duties are set out in the EUROPOL Convention, which is currently subject to ratification in member states. There have been no formal proposals to amend the Convention.
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There has been discussion of EUROPOL's powers and duties in the High Level Group on Organised Crime, which was set up following the Dublin European Council in December 1996, and in the current Intergovernmental Conference. The majority of member states, including the United Kingdom, do not believe that EUROPOL should have executive powers but should support investigations and operations conducted by national law enforcement agencies. Any proposal to amend the EUROPOL Convention in this respect would be subject to a unanimous decision of the Council and to ratification in member states.
The Home Office maintains close contact with other Government Departments and operational law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom on all
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EUROPOL related matters. In addition, all significant documents to be submitted to the Council which concern EUROPOL are submitted in advance for scrutiny to the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Communities, the House of Commons Select Committee on European Legislation and the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee.
Mr. Oaten:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers in Haslar Detention Centre, Gosport, have been on hunger strike in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement.[3311]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
Records show that 10 immigration detainees have refused regular prison meals at Haslar Detention Centre during the past 12 months, although they do not distinguish between those who have applied for asylum and others. There are currently no foods protesters at Haslar.
Mr. Oaten:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers in Haslar Detention Centre in Gosport have been detained for more than (a) six and (b) 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [3312]
Mr. O'Brien:
Central records show that at Haslar Detention Centre there are 14 detainees who have been detained for more than six months and who have sought asylum at some time, and that there are three others who have been detained for more than twelve months. All 17 applications have already been refused.
Mrs. May:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government have to implement the recommendations of the report of the Working Group on Special Constabulary in England and Wales 1995-96, with particular reference to its recommendations relating to the provision of compensation for death or injury. [3419]
Mr. Michael:
We are taking a fresh look at the Report's recommendations which, in general, provide a good basis for improving the efficiency, effectiveness and conditions of service of the special constabulary. Some of the recommendations have already been implemented by the Home Office and others are for police forces and police authorities to consider. Priority is now being given to the recommendations which relate to the circumstances in which special constables injured on duty will be able to receive compensation. A consultation paper is being prepared and will be sent shortly to the police and local authorities associations for their comments.
Dr. Lynne Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute discussions with the Secretary of State for Health on the inclusion of NHS organisations in the Public Safety Radio Communications Project. [3627]
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Mr. Michael:
The National Health Service Ambulance Trusts are already represented on the Major Sharers Forum which communicates the views of potential users of the proposed radio communications service to the Board responsible for taking the project forward.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy on membership of NATO for (a) Estonia, (b) Latvia and (c) Lithuania. [3281]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
The choice of countries to be invited to join NATO will be taken by the time of the NATO Summit in Madrid on 8-9 July. In reaching a decision with other allies we shall need to consider the wider effects on European security and on the effectiveness of the Alliance, as well as the credentials of individual countries. NATO will remain open to further enlargement after the NATO Summit in Madrid, in accordance with Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
Mr. Gummer:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will urge Argentina to ratify the High-Seas Fishing Agreement.[3153]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
I assume the right hon. Member is referring to the UN Agreement on Straddling Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. The United Kingdom and Argentina regularly discuss their international responsibilities for the conservation of fish stocks at meetings of the South Atlantic Fisheries Commission. The United Kingdom hopes that Argentina will ratify the Convention in the near future.
Mr. Gummer:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with which nations the UK proposes to enter into regional fisheries organisations under the High-Seas Fishing agreement.[3152]
Mr. Lloyd:
I assume the right hon. Member is referring to the UN Agreement on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. The UK already participates in a number of regional fisheries organisations, including the North West Atlantic Fisheries Organisation and the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission. The UK is currently participating in talks aimed at establishing regional fisheries organisations for the South West Atlantic and the South East Atlantic.
Mr. Gummer:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he estimates the UK will ratify the High-Sea Fishing Agreement.[3157]
Mr. Lloyd:
I assume the right hon. Member is referring to the UN Agreement on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks which the UK signed last year. We intend that the UK should ratify this agreement when the necessary procedures have been completed.
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Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning a settlement of the dispute between Russia and the Ukraine over the Black Sea fleet; and if he will make a statement. [3282]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
We and our EU partners have welcomed the Russia-Ukraine agreements of 29 May on the Black Sea Fleet and the Bilateral Friendship Treaty of 31 May. They are an important contribution to regional stability and to security in Europe overall.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) men and (b) women who are British citizens are serving (i) a life sentence of imprisonment and (ii) a sentence of imprisonment in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement. [3204]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
We are aware of 10 British citizens detained and sentenced in Hong Kong. All are men. None has received a life sentence. The British Trade Commission, which will become a Consulate General on 1 July, looks after the interests of British prisoners in Hong Kong.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a member of the British High Commission office in Cyprus last visited the Karpass area in occupied northern Cyprus; and what report has been made of that visit. [3528]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
A member of the British High Commission visited the Karpass 9-10 May as part of a regular series of visits to this and other regions in Cyprus. The High Commission report no significant changes in living conditions since the previous visit in February.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the British embassy in Moscow last contacted the Russian authorities about the cull of (a) harp seals and (b) fully grown adult seals in the White Sea; when the Russian authorities last contacted the United Kingdom on this matter; and if he will make a statement. [3691]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
The British Embassy in Moscow has made repeated approaches to the Russian authorities on both questions. The last one was on 28 May. The Russian Government have not yet released their figures for the seal cull in the White Sea. We will continue to press them to do so.
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