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Australia
Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's role in sponsoring the EU-Australia declaration on closer ties; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the declaration on Britain's Commonwealth links with Australia. [9645]
Mr. Doug Henderson: We have always advocated closer EU-Australia relations. This Department together with other Whitehall Departments has worked hard to ensure a good EU-Australia joint declaration. We therefore warmly welcome the signature of the joint declaration as a foundation for strengthened EU-Australia co-operation into the next century. The joint declaration is unlikely to have any direct effect on our Commonwealth links with Australia, but as the prime proponent of the declaration the UK has reinforced its role as Australia's partner of choice in the EU, building on an already excellent bilateral relationship.
Police and Judicial Co-operation
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role the European Commission played at Denver on the issue of international police and judicial co-operation; if (a) the Schengen Agreement and (b) the Title VI material of the draft Amsterdam treaty were discussed during the proceedings at Denver; and if he will make a statement. [9690]
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Mr. Doug Henderson:
International crime was one of the main focuses of discussion at the Denver summit of the G8. The European Commission was fully involved in the discussion on crime, but neither the Schengen agreement nor title VI issues were raised.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the text of the Amsterdam treaty deposited in the Library is the final draft; if articles in that text may be altered substantially before the treaty is signed; which articles are currently under negotiation; and if he will make a statement. [9692]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The text placed in the Libraries of the House is a provisional version of the draft treaty of Amsterdam. The presidency is reviewing its contents, in consultation with the member states, to ensure that it accurately reflects what was agreed at Amsterdam. The text will also be recorded and scrutinised by jurist-linguists, which may result in technical changes to a number of articles.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what provisions of the Amsterdam treaty information may be passed (a) from EU institutions to the Schengen secretariat and (b) from the Schengen secretariat to EU institutions. [9642]
Mr. Henderson:
There are no provisions in the Amsterdam treaty relating to the passage of information between the EU institutions and the Schengen Secretariat. Under article F of the Schengen protocol
"the Council, shall, acting by a qualified majority, adopt the modalities for the integration of the Schengen Secretariat into the General Secretariat of the Council".
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions the European Commission has denied a request for access to documents from an outside source since the establishment of the European Ombudsman; and what is the nature of the documents which have been withheld. [9644]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Under the code of conduct approved by the Council and the Commission concerning public access to documents, it is for each institution to implement the principles in the code as they concern access to its documents. We do not therefore hold detailed information on the requests for access to documents that have been refused by the Commission.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's recent discussions with the Minister of Justice of Sri Lanka. [9841]
Mr. Fatchett:
I met the Sri Lankan Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and Deputy Minister of Finance, Professor G. L. Peiris, on 19 June. We discussed bilateral economic relations and the current situation in Sri Lanka, including the Sri Lankan Government's efforts to find a resolution to the ethnic conflict.
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Mr. Levitt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Pakistan about the suffering of bears in bear-baiting contests. [9769]
Mr. Fatchett:
Our high commission in Islamabad has made representations to the Pakistani authorities in the past about the practice of bear baiting. In view of recent reports, they will raise the issue again and urge the Government of Pakistan to take steps to enforce the law banning this abhorrent practice.
Mr. Faber:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the conclusions of phase 1 of the strategic defence review.[10105]
Mr. Fatchett:
Work on stage 1 of the strategic defence review is continuing. No decision has been taken on publication.
Mr. Faber:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the submissions that he has received as part of the strategic defence review. [10145]
Mr. Fatchett:
The Ministry of Defence and this Department have received a large number of submissions. These are the property of the authors and may not be circulated outside Government without the author's consent. We shall seek that consent and place in the libraries of the House copies of submissions whose authors consent.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list for each departmental policy review presently in progress or scheduled, (a) a description of the purpose of the review and (b) its expected date of completion. [10192]
Mr. Fatchett:
We are the lead Department in a review of the detailed criteria used in considering licence applications for the export of conventional weapons. Its purpose is to give effect to the Government's commitment not to sell arms to regimes that might use them for internal repression or international aggression.
The review is being concluded as a matter of urgency. The new criteria will be published shortly.
Mr. Goodlad:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she expects to complete the social audit of her Department's procurement policies.[7833]
Clare Short:
We are currently examining the feasibility of a social audit. We have no specific timetable. We have started to review our procurement policies, initially with respect to contracts for Department for International development-funded construction projects.
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We are drawing up a detailed proposition for a DFID code of conduct for works contracts, to ensure that no project with which DFID is associated has unacceptable health and safety or employment practices. In support of this work, the development co-operation office in Delhi is studying the situation of construction workers on DFID-funded projects in India. The conclusions from this particular study will be available by November.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list for each departmental policy review presently in progress or scheduled, (a) a description of the purpose of the review and (b) its expected date of completion. [10181]
Clare Short:
My Department is currently undertaking two key exercises; the preparation of a White Paper on development and the departmental spending review.
The purpose of the White Paper is to set out the Government's development agenda for the elimination of poverty and coherence of policies towards developing countries. The White Paper will be published in October.
The departmental spending review will examine all DFID's programme to ensure that the resources allocated to my Department contribute directly to the achievement of the Government's development objectives as set out in the White Paper. Emerging conclusions are expected by November.
Mr. Gerald Howarth:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 7 July, Official Report, column 323, if he will set out a schedule of the proposed refurbishment of the Lord Chancellor's official residence and offices within the Palace of Westminster, together with estimated costs. [9342]
Mr. Hoon:
I confirm that the cost of the proposal will be in the region of £650,000. The bulk of the costs will be incurred on the restoration and refurbishment of the state rooms. I can also confirm that the following works are included in the proposals:
The total estimated cost of £650,000 also includes fees to cover the work of a structural engineer, the preparations of designs--for light fittings and reproduction furniture--and the services of a quantity surveyor. In addition to these works, the residence will be further enhanced by the loan of very many paintings and sculptures, free of any charge, by major national institutions. The Palace of Westminster--House of Lords is moreover considering the implications of a proposal to open the state rooms to the public so that the public could benefit from viewing
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both the residence, restored in accordance with an historically authentic scheme, and the works of art and sculpture within it.
Replacement and/or restoration of furniture
Redecoration, including wallcoverings
Replacement of soft furnishings, such as carpets, curtains and blinds
Replacement of light fittings
Miscellaneous work and services, including plumbing, heating, fire detection systems, electrical works and porterage charges.
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